On the tetra/angels we'll have 2 Fluval 405s and on the african tank we'll have an oceanclear canister (got 2 free with the tanks). What you might see as plumbing is probably the power strips that we set up to get everything ready. For altering pH, I don't plan to do anything. I'd rather no mess with pH if I can. I do have peat if I need to lower pH in the tetra/angel although the tetras we have now are doing awesomely without it. I can run crushed coral in the african filter if I need to.
The tetra/angelfish will be mostly neons (tons of them, already have 60) and handfuls of other types like blacks, hatchets, glow lights, maybe some rummys, some harlequin rasboras, albino corys, and my chocolate/albino pleco with 4 angels. I was thinking koi angels but it depends on availability in our area. The substrate will be different sizes of river pebble gravel, large river rock, mopani wood and yep, a crap load of plants
The africans will be albino zebras, red zebras, acei, blue zebras, yellow labs. Their tank will have sugar white PFS and lace rock. I might do some fake vines weaved in there.
For the background on both tanks I have an idea that I think will add some "light" texture, I plan to use burlap connected to the tank trim with velcro. I think that will add a natural-ish look.