Thank you. Trust me, we're no carpenters either! I think the stand and canopy look better in the pictures, in person you can see the imperfections. But overall we're pretty happy with it.
I've found the same thing. I can't tell where the imperfections in the stand and canopy are unless it's outside in daylight. In the house it's dark enough so they don't show. Plus I paint all my stuff dark so that the inside of the tank shows instead of the stand/ canopy being the attraction. Are you planning on leaving the stand bare?
Does that red tial not mess with the cichlids? I had nothing but problems with mine lately. It was kinda weird that I seen the pic and had a sudden chill come over me.