wow a lot of questions so i will go in order.
''Umm im kinda confused on this one so if any one has any pics that could further explaine this that would be great''
ok this is pretty simple inside of the power filter you first put in foam,this is just to filter out little bits of dirt,on top of the foam you get little bits of lr from your dealer and pack them in there,the purpose of this is for biological filtration and to give little critters a place to live were the fish in your tank wont eat them. you dont completely filll the filter box with lr rubble becuase you need room to grow the cheato(algea that grows like a matt of spagettii) The reason i tell you to get the fillter with the most room in it is becuase the algea needs room to grow. Your prolly thinking y would you want to grow algea in your filter? for algea to grow it needs two things phosphate, and nitrate, both of these you dont want in your tank. algea uses phosphate and nitrate to grow,once it overgrows your filter you trim it.
next question
what does a protein skimmer do that a filter doesent?
a skimmer is a filter.
http://www.aquatictech.com/skimmers.htm
This is what a skimer looks like(this is also what i will be useing) a protein skimmer uses a pump and acts like a blender to mix water and air together im a chamber, Little dissolved waste you dont want in your water cling to the bubles of air and float to to top of the chamber and get trapped in a cup. The purpose of this is to get that stuff out of your water before it has time to be eaten by the bacteria in your filter.Why wouldent you want it to be eaten by the bacteria in your filter you ask? because when the bacteria are done eating that gunk whats left is nitrate. Nitrate can only be removed with a water change(costs you money) or with cheato algea.you do not need a skiimmer but when you get money you may want to get one.
powerheads or just pumps in your water for making curculation for your corals.
http://www.marinedepot.com/md_viewIt...product=AS1117
a refugium is just a place for little critters to grow and reproduce without your fish eating them. In a refugium you may find tiny starfish,worms,copeapods(little critters) and algea.
how do you clean the tank?
iv never cleaned a saltwater tank becuase mines not set up yet but i think all you have to do is water changes and clean algea. you dont take every thing out of the tank to clean it just scrape some algea of the walls and drain some water and add some new saltwater(use a heater to get it the same temp as your tank water)
A sump is just a tank under your tank were filtration takes place such as you can have your refugium in your sump,heater,skimmer,ect
a overflow box is what you use to drain water from your tank to your sump if your tank is not already pre-drilled with a overflow.
http://www.marinedepot.com/md_viewIt...product=CR1513
this is what i have. If you have x amount of water going into your sump and you have x amount of water leaving your sump from you skimmer your prolly thinking y doesent the tank overflow from a imbalance in flows? thats were a overflow bax comes in, it regulates the flow going into your sump.
no you do not have to drill holes if you want a sump thats what the overflow box is for.
10 gallon kit? im just buying a standard glass tank. they come with the a hood with a flourecent bulb in them if thats what your asking.
I did not buy a kit i bought all these parts seperatly. I think that what your relly asking is do regular tanks come with flourecent lighting? yes
Ordering online is a good idea but the problem im haveing is when you order the salt and sand they add a speacial handling charge that the free shipping dosent cover.
