just a quick update
tank running great without the skimmer box, i am running the vortech very shallow about 1.5 inches off the surface in pulse mode full blast this gives a huge amount of surface movement, my 15 sps corals are enjoying the new light with amazing colours developing !!. had to move a few lps down as they were loosing colour but hope they will recover.
couple of expected problems have cropped up, one is hair algae the second is heat despite my chiller working hard.dealt with heat by using a cooling fan over water surface but working through the hair algae, put some money cowries in as someone else told me they had success with them will let you know.
i have decided to move on to a larger tank in the next few months as my passion is sps so need more water volume and space !!
new tank is 3ftx3ft and 2 foot high