general equipment questions

[stupid_naso]

First, lighting, what's the significance of Kelvin in the lighting? I read in C Marlowe post about reef lighting that it's just "the color the light gives off". Is that it? Because I have one lighting fixture that is 18 W with also a writting that says 10,000 K. What's the significance of that 10,000 K?
Second, protein skimmer. Don't know why but I bought a skimmer in a bag. I used to put it inside my penguin bio-wheel filter, and let it run. After awhile it didn't seem to help filter anything. So I changed it back to filter cartridge, which works well. Should I use this so called 'protein skimmer'? Or should I stick with the cartridge?
Thanks,
sebae_the_clown

 

[mr . salty]

Yes,The "k" is a scale that measures the color.The lower the number(55K) the more red and yellow the light is...The higher the number(20000K)the more blue the light is...The lower numbers tend to be a bit brighter,but they also can cause algae problems..The higher(blue) is more appealing to the eye,and actually makes the irradescent colors of the fish and corals GLOW.Your 10k bulbs should be perfect...As for that "skimmer in a bag",,,Skip it.If you have a need for a skimmer(and most tanks do) you should just get a skimmer...

 

[stupid_naso]

MR. SALTY, I think my lfs lied to me. Because when I bought the lighting fixture, my lfs, actually the owner, told me that I can keep any corals I want. In the same time, I even bought a bubble tip anemones, that died three days after, he didn't say anything then . Now, I know there might be a problem with my water but if this bulb is not at all close to the need for anemone, then the lfs purposely lied to me, killed my anemone and just wanted money from me .
Now my question is what do I do now? I cannot refund it, it's their policy. I can only exchange it. So what do I do? What lighting should I get? Or should I just stick with this one? How does this one do me any better than the one before? I took out my regular fluerescent bulb, 15W out of the canopy (I guess that's what it's called). I'm using my 50/50 18 W under the covering, the plastic cover, of the old bulb. I can always change it back. Any suggestion?
Any suggestion on how I can argue my way with this owner? Like "I read in this book, da da da da da...." <img src="graemlins//evilwhorn.gif" border="0" alt="[Evil Horn]" />
sebae_the_clown

 

[stupid_naso]

MR SALTY? Or anyone else?
sebae_the_clown