aclockworkorange;4640975; said:
Makes it look unnatural IMO. I would get rid of that stray plant in the top right on the tank too (above the one you shoved in that hole on the right). If you put things in corners it tends to look bad.
I completely agree on the top corner piece. That was just something I tried and didn't like. I had that pulled out before I went to bed last night. I did want that large piece of wood in the corner though.
DaveB;4641020; said:
I sort of disagree, depending on the execution. I think if you used any more plants you could have them reaching from the inner part out and down to cover the overflows. An element or two (wood) in front of them wouldn't hurt either.
Not that black looks bad, or even that noticeable with your central light, but going from a more open center to a more weeded/wooded edge would also look good and natural too.
This is the lesser of evils. The overflow looks better than plumbing and a BG looks better then none. Now it's fine tuning to find a tasteful balance. I do want the woodsy feel on each end but wanted to limit symmetry and in turn an unatural feel. That's why I got such differently shaped pieces. Keep in mind the stones and leaves are not yet in the tank either. I decided I might as well go ahead with my gut and cut the wood to fit the left side. I did mess up, but I can fix that.
This is the main reason for the wood to begin with. The 3D root structure provides depth front to make and I like it in the sand.
Please keep in mind rough fit biut this is it with no plants.
With the plant. So in your opinion (not planted tank guys either, this is an SA cichlid habitat not a plant tank going in Takashi Amano's portfilio) would you thin out and keep the plant, leave the plant as is or ditch it all together???
If anything, I'd maybe ad a plant in between the two on the top center so it doesn't look quite so symmetrical and perfect. Does that make sense? 
