PaulS:
as I said I'm not that familiar with writing code.
What is your purpose in doing this project, then? Why choose a project that involves programming if it isn't to learn to program?
If i did not intent to learn, I would not be on here learning.. The atmega chipset, as I'm sure your aware of, allows for complex control of systems which otherwise could not be automated in such a way. This application (marine fish tank) is my second functional build using an arduino, and hence, I am very new and find code unfamiliar.
The peer support and guidance available through sites like this really underpin the open-source nature of this and I assume novices are welcomed, without nature of questioning I find to be subjective and off subject PaulS.