Little advice/help?

Hello I am new to the hobby. I have just finished setting up a 125 DT and 39 gallon sump. It seems to be running very smoothly after I worked ut some noise issue like gurgling (what a nightmare!..).

What I need help with is the placement of the rock.. I see so many aquascapes (is that the right word?) that are gorgeous and now I really see my "live rock" looks just like a "rock pile".. I know there is no magic answer but how do you go about setting it up? I tried to create tunnels and holes, as I tend to like those, but it looks horrible. Do most people "shape" the rock (break, trim, carve and etc.) as my LR is really porous and kinda like flat chunks (cant really describe what it looks like).. I set, reset, reset the reset and on and on to the point I told my wife lets "pile it up" where its stable and quit trying...... Out of everything I have encountered, including the budget we went WAY over and resolving the noise issues, the rock is the most frustrating to me.. I have absolutely no decorative skills, no visions, no creativity within me... IS there a Building an Aquascape for dummy's book?!?!?!? Seriously I am very frustrated...

Help advice???

 

Its pretty tough for me too. I would google some aquascaping threads and look at their pictures. The most important thing i've discovered the last decade is to make sure you have good flow through your rocks. This makes happier fish and reduces alot of nutrient porblems as well.
I start with 3-4 small rocks on the base level with a big rock on top of those kinda like a table so water flows underneath the structures easily, and my rocks are secure. then I build a couple islands and maybe connect them with arches. Check my thread for some basics.
The other way is to drill and stack with acrylic connecting rods. This is the best way to do it IMO but I was moving all my rock from other tanks so couldn't work for me.

 

I myself do smash, shape, and break the rocks. Just get a hammer and chisel and go to town.
It's really a personal taste thing so there isn't many tips I can give you. I will tell you its much easier to first do it outside of the tank, get an idea of what you like, then do it inside.
And try turning down your return pump, gargling from the overflow is most commonly caused by the return pump returning the water faster than the overflow was designed for.