You dont need 1.5 lbs per gallon. Get as much as you like to make a nice looking rock scape. The 1.5-2 lbs per gallon was to help with filtration. With the skimmers and other filters they sell now you can get away with using less rock.
Also the $7.99 rock from RC is just home made rock with coralline algae. I have seen far better natural rock.[/QUOTE
Amen. There are many, many different styles of aquascapes. It boils down to .... to each his own. While that is the beauty of this hobby, if you could envision the direction of your tank, ( sps, fowlr, natural reefscape, etc) I think that would be your best option at this point. Check out the amazing scapes on here, or just your local reefer. I personally enjoy the island scapes, or even the pillar look which is best suited in my opinion for sps, for optimum water flow within your tank to reduce the amount of detritus accumulated. I have seen natural scapes to where it looks as if the hobbyist put the LR without any planning, and just stacked the LR . In my opinion, there is no "right " or "wrong" way to scape, but truly preference... On that note, Reefguy's Pukani is an amazing LR- as for myself, I truly find porous LR and LR that create shelves are a big bonus, while others find joy in big base rocks the size of basketballs. The rule of thumb on the live rock is a good foundation, but...... unnecessary. ( granted you have other filtration) Just my 2 pesos.