weipro skimmer need both powerhead and air pump.. The powerhead to draw water into the skimmer and the air pump is to generate bubbles inside the skimmer.
i think snails are super algae eater, on glass and rocks.. They leave a clean track when they move around.... just that they move very slowly..
hmm.. wondering why nature does not produce snails with legs
sometimes you can get confused from reading too much too.. Different authors have different method of making their tank a success..
Reading just makes the learning curve shorter.
"Don't care how you do it, just get it done"
I think what you meant is to reduce as much noise as possible (from anywhere). By adding rubber or sponge, you introduce damping effect to the equipment. Hence, reducing the noise produce. Did I understand your reply correctly?
A chiller will enable you to control the temperature better. Using fan will cause water to evaporate at a much faster rate. Water temperature will also depends on environmental temperature.
Depend on what you are keeping. A chiller is not a must in some cases, but its good to have.
I agree with acidjazz... this hobby is not cheap..
careful planning is a must, and not to start halfway just to give up due to lack of resource to continue. Your fishes will suffer. The cost would be higher if you're building a reef tank.