Identifying Equipment in my new tank

I picked up my new 90 gallon tank yesterday that is setup with a sump. I am looking at it and seriously questioning my sanity during the purchase. I am a bit overwhelmed! I will love it when i get used to it but as for now i cant figure it out! Does anyone have a link to basic sump setups or anything that i can look at. This one was home made by the other person so it is different than the storebought ones i have seen. Can anyone list the equipment in the sump and the basic parts of the setup? Also i have some piece of piping equipment that looks like a sea monster hanging over into the tank so i am hoping that isn't where it is supposed to be because it is a serious eyesore. Can anyone tell me what this thing is and what it is for? I included pics of the contraption and the tank. I do have a stand but i haven't brought it in yet because i want to restain it.

 

The black line with the pvc elbows and knobby black lines are the return. I'd say the pvc "U" hangs on the back of your display tank. The knobby black lines are flexible so you can direct flow. The pipes through the glass are overflow drains that let the water into the sump.

 

Is there a way to make the return not so much of an eyesore? Do you leave all the little arms of it inside the tank like that? Also the hose that is attached. Where does that go within the sump?

 

The end of the hose will connect to what return pump you use. That will sit in the return area of your sump. And yes the fleixtube goes into the tank. I don't use that type of return so I cant give you any ideas on how to hide the flexpipe. Maybe someone who does will chime in.

 

If I remember right, the flexipipe can be shortened by just popping out sections of it, not 100% positive though. Otherwise, you could just remove the flexipipe altogether and do something different.

 

You can. They're a bit tough to pull apart and push together by hand, but totally doable.