Great looking tank.. off subject a little bit, but I know you live in michigan, and have mentioned before that you shop at ewerts, in niles... I live very close to niles and assuming that you got your plants from there, how much do they cost? I'd like to buy some but I want to know how much money I need, first.
You don't have to get one of those fakey-photographic backgrounds. I agree those look phony. I'm talking like a solid black background. They really complete a tank ensemble really nicely. I highly recommend it!
It wouldn't even cost you much to test it out. Just go to Staples or something, get a piece of black posterboard for no more than a dollar, cut it, and attach it to the back. It will take 5 minutes, $1, and I promise you'll like it more than those free-hanging cords in the back of the tank.
i second rsanz - I made my background from two A1 pieces of cardboard...about 10 euros total - not sure what the current exchange rate but that's not expensive. You might be surprised at the effect.