redseareef - in my tank yes - I get flow all over with no dead spots. I see it when I put flake food in - pieces travel all over the tank, top to bottom, behind my rock and out the other side. But, you still want to avoid having any corals right in front of it. It is indeed a very broad flow, but there is some flow concentration directly in front of the Vortech. I noticed earlier this week that I had my MP20 setting at 100% since setting it up, and it still wasn't blowing any substrate around. I did turn it down to about 80% now. On reefcrest mode it does blow my duncans around a bit (they're on my rock, and close to being in front of it), but since putting in the Vortech my Duncans have actually been opening up more than before, so I guess they like the intermittent current surges. Every tank may be different as to the best place to put the Vortech. And yes, I try not to even think about how much money is invested in my little glass box of water!
gotcha - 2 Vortechs would really be a major expense! 1 does just fine for me LOL! I'd love to see that fuge setup! I'm hoping to set up my Lifereef overflow and DIY sump/fuge next week.
My sump/fuge is an old 10g tank that I've put baffles in to make 3 chambers. It'll take up the width of the cabinet, but leave just enough room in front for a thin but wide ATO reservoir that I have. I'll be using a Tunze 9002 in the sump - it's been in the box collecting dust for most of the time I've had it, over a year. I'm hoping to be able to pull everything out of the back of the RSM, including my ATO sensors and the media basket. I'll put the ATO sensors in the sump/fuge, and retire my Remora skimmer for now, and hope the Tunze does as well. The Remora is too big to fit in the sump and and keep my shelf in the cabinet, so the Tunze will fit perfectly. Still not sure if I'll keep the media basket in the back for stuff like carbon. etc. I'd definitely like to get any mechanical filtration out of the back, if possible. I know about the StevieT Tunze cup, but have no need for it.
gotcha - on the major expenses being done, I can't count how many times I've told myself that!