I don't mean to blow my own horn but I think I'm pretty good with the rockwork. I don't like what I see out there in most tanks that builders blocks kind of thing or the wall. I live in jamaica and we have dead rock on the beaches all the time. I actually collect nice stuff I find and put them down at home. I play with them allot just putting together aquascapes over and over and over just for fun. (I mean in an empty tank without water..)
I don't place the rock up against the glass all my rockwork is far enough from the glass to leave a space between the glass and the rock so that I can get the magfloat behind there. This also helps allot with water flow detrius doesn't get trapped in the center as easy as the middle as well. You can float it up when you need to with a powerhead or turkey baster.
I hardly pull the rocks out to look for something. I did it once because I had pistol shrimp that killed cleaners. Couldn't find them in any case. I also find that you get way better results when you have rocks vary greatly in size. Like all big rocks and all small rocks won't make something nice.
I've also seen and tried a tank that has rock glued to the back of the tank. So that you don't have to worry about cleaning that back glass. And it gives you a nice backdrop for your front rock. When selecting rock as well don't just go with the lightest stuff that you can find. Get most light and get some dense. Variety is important. I have a couple pics of tanks with cool rockwork ideas, I'll put them up when I get a chance.
