Generally in tank construction,a course of plates are erected. These can be the 1st ring of plates or the 2nd, 3rd, 4th. etc. When erecting the plates they are temporally 'pinned'
together with a 'keyplate'. These are used to hold the plates together and will be used to obtain the fit up 'gap. Usually 4 or more keyplates per plate are used. The plate erection will continue until all plates required in the course are temporarily fixed in place. Then, final fit-up will start. No welding can occur before all the vertical plates are fit-up. The key plates will be used to obtain the required root gap. Once the required 'root gap' is acceptable,the weld joint will be secured by welding 'finger bars' (2"x6"x3/8"cs) across or transverse to the vertical joint. Several finger bars will be used per weld joint. These are used in leiu of tack welding the joints. All the vertical joints will be fit-up before welding can start. This is because you might have to big of a root gap on the last 'vert'. Accordingly, you will have go back and adjust the other fit-ups and divide the large root gap among the other fit-up joints. Good Luck
The other question refers to leaving or removing backing strips from the shells of tanks.
Most tanks are welded with the open butt technique. If backing strips are used and left in place they would look "terrible'. Its a question of cosmetics.