Those tanks are fabulous! Both tanks are absolutely gorgeous- why did you tear them down though? They looked like they were showroom quality at a public aquarium!
What you have described in the tank is easy to do.
Here's how to set-up that tropical scene of the plants growing from out of the driftwood. Buy an anubia plant, nana, coffeolis, or barteri are good choices or even a few java ferns plants.
Then, buy 2 pieces of driftwood and get some twist ties, black color with plastic coating (you can get these easy at a hardware store or saving the ties that come with alot of electronics nowadays).
Then using the ties, place the plants on the driftwood. It's that easy. In time, the plants will grow and spread, covering the twist ties from view and you will have a marvelous tropical scene!
I used that formula with tremendous success on my lava rock, which I tied 2 anubias, 1 nana and 1 coffeolis. It took some time for the plants to fill in, but the roots from ther plants now interlace with the rock, weaving in and out of it, while covering the ties in their wonderful roots.
As for the lighting, something in the 1.5-2 watts per gallon range would be perfect for the tank. Perhaps this could help you:
http://www.hellolights.com/482xcofraq2x.html
Also, for filtration, I would go with an Eheim model, like the ecco line, or perhaps a rena filstar- both are oustanding brands.
Hope this helps your decisions!
