live rock arrangement benefits

[aileena]

I recently changed my live rock around significantly. Before i had all my rock positioned in the middle of the tank so that there was equal room in the back and in the front. I felt that the tank was so crowded and that I was not maximizing my available space so I moved the rock around. Instead I positioned all the rock at the back of the tank and built the rock up against the back wall of the tank in an upward fashion toward the top of the tank, like a wall.
The tank looks so much better and there is so much more room too...It looks now as though I don't have that much live rock...so I am going to the LFS and buying another 5 lbs piece of rock. I wonder if there are any other benefits??? I notice that the fish still have places to hide, but that now they have much more swimming space and the c.c. bed is much more free for the crabs and shrimp to scavenge around....
any opinions about the placement of LR?

 

[mlm]

I have mine placed like a mountain stacked agaist the back with 4 inches on each side. I think it looks the best this way esp. if you have a deep tank front to back.

 

[aileena]

...

 

[finland]

I have the lr sloped up the back of the tank also. I think it looks better and seems to open the tank up a little. When stacking the rock,though, make sure it is loosely stacked, with a lot of openings and hiding places for the fish. The water has to be able to circulate aroung the LR, so it doesn't accumulate waste.