Keep in mind your sailfin will likely get over a foot long.
For your canopy, I've always thought the clamshell design works well. Lights can be mounted up high so with the cover open there's easy access.
Bad pics are good! In a few months once the ecosystem stabalizes in your "Heavy" build the before and after pics will help show how things can improve.
It would be awkward using a drill press on a tank and messy running water to keep the bit cool. I've used wood jigs in the past and they're certainly easy to make but there's been enough of a gap with diamond bits there can still be a bit of an angle. Drilling from both sides has given the best results but there's no room to do that in this tank. Drilling real slow also works better but I get impatient :/
2nd attempt, no issues cutting the glass but I did torque the hole saw drilling one hole. That's a problem I've had drilling the thinner glass on smaller tanks. It seems to happen just as the bit starts to cut through the glass.
I'd think it needs more intense light to get brighter colors. But comparing colors and growth to a couple of mine from the same clone line the growth of yours might slow down.