Looking for help -- adding Fiji Cube AIO Kit to 75 Gallon Tank

[Canaan]

Hi all. I recently joined WAMAS and am trying to setup this 75 gallon reef tank. I purchased this Fiji Cube AIO kit to silicone to my tank, as I like the look of it and do not want to drill for a sump. The gap between the AIO kit and my glass side panel was too large, so I purchased a 3/8" acrylic panel to fill the gap [second photo]. Unfortunately, there is still a gap, and I'm not sure that another panel will fix this issue. I'm struggling with this and ready to give up; I'm not much of a DIY person, so I would appreciate any help you can provide, whether here or in-person. I'm located in 20037.

Thank you!

[gastone]

Hmm...could you cut a piece of black aquarium film to size, or perhaps tape off and paint the outside black to hide the gap? I feel like all of my aio tanks are painted/sheathed in black film on the outside of the chamber.

 

[cpeguero]

If it’s just for aesthetics, leave that black spacer there as a backer and run a bead of black silicone up that seam to hide it

[Canaan]

Thank you for the responses. The concern is more structural. The gap between the side glass panel and the aio is about 1 cm. And that’s with the 3/8” acrylic panel. Google search suggests that a 1 cm gap is too large for silicone. Thoughts? 

[cpeguero]

Hmmmm. Why is the gap there? Why can’t you get the insert all the way up against the glass? Is it because it’s sitting on the bottom and hitting the silicone bead at the bottom seam? If so, can you put a spacer underneath the insert to get it above that seam and up against the glass?

[gastone]

https://www.reef2reef.com/threads/install-fiji-cube-40gal-aio.882025/