YES!! Before the noise wasn't bad after a break in period.. but now on the back of the tank it is completely silent... well, to me it is.. obviously still the same noise, just not noticable now.
Also, flow seems MUCH better. I took out about 20-30lbs of rock and it is VERY open now. Picture doesn't do it justice at all. I will take some pics later with a 10K bulb to get a good picture. The flow is "different"... to me, seems like less flow, but I think it is because the tank is more open now the flow is going more places and not as noticable, but polyp extension looks good and a few corals I always had minor problems with placement seem to be looking better than ever. If you look at the last pic I took I put a Penductor on the left side but just a flare nozzle on the right side because the vortech is there also.. seems to really even out the flow and make it just right. I tried 2 penductors, too much flow, 2 flare nozzles, not nearly enough flow, but 1 and 1 seems a perfect balance.
Also, if you look closely at the pics.. you can see more fish. Gobies under the PVC frame.. 5 fish I spot in the first picture, 4 fish in the second..
I didn't really want to put the Slimer back in the center like it is.. makes it look too much like the old aquascaping, but it really was the only place it would fit and it covers the closed loop intake very nicely. Closeup pics later on will show how different the layout actually is, and how much more open it is.
if u decide to ship frags let me know....I am sure we can trade sumptin' 
