Seeing your setup gave me an instant and interesting idea....
Paint the pots with off-white and dry brush with a light grey. then seal with a light layer of silicone.
replace the trailerpark esque concrete with concrete coated foam, shaped like old broken greek pillars, painted and sealed to match the terra cotta. these should be all the way to the top of the water.
Pile broken white rocks around to give the impression that things are broken/crumbled.
Everywhere else, a plain brown medium sized substrate.
Perhaps a small bust of Plato somewhere....
voila, instant ancient greek ruins - Just add water.
_Ty_, I like your ideas! Tell me more about this amazing decorative element called concrete coated foam and why have I not heard of it before! Is it as basic as it sounds, concrete and foam?
I have been trying to find a 30 breeder for the puffers. Once I get my hands on one, I think I'll try your ideas. I do like reading my Greek mythologies. Pillars in a 30 breeder would look great. Especially with the small size of the puffers. The scale is perfect.
I will stay with the sand substrate because the puffers occasionally nap on top of it.
Hmmmm..... I may have to change their names when I'm finished. "Piglet" and "Blinky" do not conjure up images of ancient Greece.
But this is not the face of a "Zeus".