lifting rock up to increase circulation!?!

[cichlidite]

To tag along to Mr Ono's question about power heads, I saw yesterday in Seattle a 100g display tank where they used strategically placed 2" acrylic posts to lift the entire large pile of live rock off the substrate. This created an interesting look, as critters and spectators alike had free access to a bunch of previously unaccessable nooks and crannies.....but more importantly it increased circulation greatly. He had a flute-like inflow tube nestled in the substrate down under there. The pro's of this are obvious even to me, but he said the downside is that many critters (ie starfish, crabs) cannot climb up from the substrate onto the pile (he did have two places where the rocks reached the sand for this exact purpose). Anyway, I was wondering what you all thought of this interesting way to increase circulation and decrease detrius buildup, etc...?
Are there other alternatives similar to this that also increase circulation?

I think I liked it, but will reserve my opinion until I hear from the "esteemed panel". :-)

Gratefully, Mike

[Doug1]

I had the LR in my 55g raised an inch or so up with eggcrate racks. Mounted a spraybar made from 1/2 inch pvc along the back to wash slowly under the rock stack

[karsco]

Hey Cichlidite,

I have done something similar in my tank. I took some 6" diamater PVC pipe and cut it in about 5" lengths. (about the same depth as my DSB) I then took a drill and put many 1/2" holes throughout the PVC. By drilling these holes this allowed spaces for worms and fauna in the sand bed to pass through this barrier. I then put these under the majority of my base rock which kept the rock just sitting above the sand bed. This allows for better circulation and keeps the rock structure much more solid so that my fish and pistol shrimp cannot undermine the rock and cause a cave in! The places that you can see the pvc you do not reall notice because the PVC blends well with my white sand bed.