I'm from Upstate NY, so I have No Clue where you are all talking about, so I will answer your question.  How's that?

Currently I have three tanks, one is a quaranteen, one is a 40g hex, the other is a custom-jobbie that's 25g.

I've always kept males from females, and would separate them as soon as I could sex them.

My breedng strategy(if you want to call it one) was to put two together (at least 6 months old) that I liked(had the "best" of what trait I was aiming for)into a smaller, like 2gal set up.
I called it the "Honeymoon Suite".

Once I was sure the female was pregnant, I would remove the male, (send him back to his buddies to brag) and keep the female in her own little "digs".  This would prevent another male from getting any second chances. ;o)

Then I'd spoil her rotten, and start the countdown.  Once she had her fry, she'd go back in with the girls, and the tank would become the "nursery".  Once I could sex the babies they
would get separated, and the whole process would start over again.

As far as plants, I like live, but have a problem with those in my tall hex, not getting enough light, and having my clown loaches constantly uprooting them.

Right now the hex is a Community tank, the 25 gal. is becoming one, with the added intention of breeding swordtails, and then there's my Q tank.
I keep two smaller plastic ones at the ready that I can whip up in seconds if I need a hospital or isolation tank.  Also in case I thin out my tanks again, and want to do "one more" guppy pairing.
I have some purples that I'm thinking about putting together in the spring.

As soon as I get the time, I will post some photos to my album on ImageStation of my tanks.
I guess I would call them "decorative" features in my home, and a lot of enjoyment for me.

I hope this is what you were interested in.
Usually everyone loves to "talk tanks", I'm sure they'll chime in as soon as they have you mapped out on their radar. ;o)

Take care,