Well when I say beginner I have been keeping fish for almost 17 years, ten of those marine. However this is the first full on planted set up. Yes I get exactly what you mean with the foreground to back and thats what I was planning to work on next. What is the plant you have got in your tank currently, it's almost long thin and grassy? It's what I was thinking of using.
Reef keeping is almost an exact opposite, I have to plan almost a year in advance as to where my sps corals will grow. I am finding that after work everyday I'm fiddling a little with the planted tank! But i am really enjoying it, but weirdly I am looking forward to changing it when this set up has all grown out! Something that marine keepers can't do!