I don't see how any cichlid can be happy on bare bottom, mine's always bulldozing and rearranging her tank. Besides I enjoy watching her "play" with the rocks.
people think it keeps tanks cleaner. My barebottom tanks have a bunch of nasty crap growing on the bottom of them anyways so that kills that idea. I prefer substrate or barebottom if you have a pleco to clean up the mess thats going to grow on the bottom.
