Yes, I know your skimmerless Bev. I was wondering about it regarding bare bottomed tanks. As you know, the guys running the large starboard tanks use lots of current to keep the detritus in suspension and I assume into the overflows. Then the large becketts, which are run wet, remove most of it. Of course these only house sps type corals and current loving fish.
Although we use large becketts, like you, we are still trying to keep our systems somewhat more simple. My friends 180 does have a shallow sandbed however. Mine is likely going to be starboard, but I,m having a hard time trying to part with my wrasses.
I experimented with my beckett running direct from my 225 before, but it also had some sand in it.
Also an advantage of a higher flow system, is my pair of Tunze streams keep the rock pretty clean. I also used a turkey baster for most cleaning that was required. I found the powerhead idea to hard on some corals and frags many times.
Orion, I would never run my returns much below the surface. I have no trust in check valves in a reef system. And although I use the small hole in my return lines, to break the siphon, I have seen what happens when they plug or a snail crawls on them. Now a closed loop cleaning the bottom is another thing.
Maybe thats what you need Bev. A small closed loop, with some type of bottom spray bar or something. Of course then, unless removable, spray bars can easily clog over time.