I think that a keyboard command that would allow the 3D background to be locked would be a good idea. This way the user isnt restricted to locking in in the center. They could simply hit the keyboard button when the screen is in the posistion they like. They prototype setting in the image kinda makes me think it would lock in the center position.
I understand that if the user liked the side view of the tank better then the fish probably wont swin off the side, but Jim said that the 3D background would be just over two screens wide. So I figure that there would be more than just the centered view that a user may like best.