No, bare bottom is an option. Some of the locals here use bare bottom in predominately SPS tanks due to using extreme amounts of flow. One of them has encrusting montis on the bottom.
Thanx for the kind words guys & gals. This hobby is the best thing I've done in a while.
As far as the bare bottom, I thought it would be easier to keep the bottom clean. lol
To be honest.....I Hate It....Its not so nice to look at. I was hoping to have some coraline growing there but I'm not sure I can wait. Besides its not any easier IMO. Stuff still settles and gets trapped under the rocks and I use a PW to blow it out. I have a 20lb bag of sand sitting next to my tank as we speek. I bought it with the new rock last month. Just that I've been putting off the job of getting it in the tank. Gotta get a funnel and some tube or pvc and do it slowly. One of these days.
Thanx Niko. I mean Reefscape. Whats with the name change? Anywho I'm always willing to share. Just got some GSP and when they open up I'll share some more pics.
as promised.....the 2nd to last pic I don't know what it is but I waited to get a good pic to post with it open and the fingers coming out. Its on the frag of orange zoas. It just started to open up it was just a blob on the rock to me until I seen the lil fingers come out last week. Now they are always out day or night, less a hermit or something scares it.
Yes, a freebe. Didn't even know it was there until the 1st night in the tank with the blue LED's on. Then all the spots on it were glowing. Thought maybe some kind of shroom, but then it opened.