Well as one who has spent a great deal of time researching the best way to develop a reef system, taking advantage of personal experience, the web, and advice of succesful aquarist's...I have read many of BB posts (not all, I do not have that kind of time available to crusie the net) and took in what he said with many a grain of salt.
But I take all advice with a grain of salt.
Are plants, macros or otherwise needed to have a successful system? Well based upon available evidence the answer is no. Will the heavy planted system, mud system, 6000 bristle worms, troop of carbon bag waving Tonga coral crabs, or whatever off the beaten path system work? What does work mean?
Healthy fish, great visual appeal, excellerated coral growth, etc.; all of the above? I think that the 900gal wonder of the forum is just that, a wonder to behold and aspire to.
Just curious, what does it cost...in dollars, manhours, and other measureable considerations, to maintain a tank of 100gl plus with the anti BB method? These are some of the considerations involved with the alternate methods being explored, IMHO.
I have no perfect tank to show. I am still setting up, cycling the system, and continuing my research...always looking for that next answer.
To be honest, I like some of the more odd animals available (octopi, mantis shrimps, anglers, etc.) but I do aspire to the higher realm of reef keeping.
Do I have to use one method or another, of course not.
If people have taken the advise of another, without further research, well guess what that is called...jumping out of the plane without checking your own parashute.
I will have plants, lots of them...I like plants, some more than the animals. I will have a few in the central tank, but for the most part they will reside within a pair of fuges. MH lights. I also have alternate filtration methods. I am making the best of all the more interesting ideas and hoping for the best.
That is about all you can do.
I wish everyone the best in their ventures and adventures.
As Bruce said "try everything, listen to everyone, learn all that you can, and use what works for you".
Ray Boemler
www.peanutbutterjellyfish.com