I think that with more Discus coming you need to invest in a battery backup. Some of the Uninterruptible Power Supplies you buy at office supply places use a small 12V lead-acid battery. They can be connected to a large deep-cycle automotive/RV type battery. Hook up a heater and pump to this and you should be able to survive most power outages.
That doesn't quite work for 600 gallons of water on a 20 degree day (I just picked up a Subaru-powered, electric-start 8000W generator for that), but it should keep your 57 gallon going in California weather.
Jose I think it looks good both ways. But with plants it makes the tank look a little bigger. Maybe add some neons to it and leave the plants out......?
Cant wait to see pics of your new wilds
looks nice WITH the plants with this current setup.
looks nice WITHOUT plants only if you had white sand.
i think it would look a lot better and cleaner if you had white sand, and not too many of the rocks. it looks too dark with all the black, and soon most likely your discus will have peppering.but thats my opinion, but regardless it looks nice. but its whats you like not us.