Lisa, you got this. It's not difficult at all. Like DN328 mentioned, watch a few youtube videos on how to cut PVC pipe and glue fittings and you're set. It's not rocket surgery. =) If you're still uncomfortable working with PVC, you can use nylon tubing, barbed fittings and hose clamps. If your boyfriend is building a stand, he will have the skills to take on plumbing.
Justin (JK47) gave really good advice. He knows what's up. His suggestions are a little more advanced, but his ideas are definitely worth considering and still something you can take on yourself. Just be careful/thoughtful about your hole placements (make sure you leave enough room for the flange of the bulkhead...don't drill too close to the walls of the overflow tower). Beananimal or Herbie will be quiet and give you a lot of flexibility in regards to how much flow you run through the sump (aka turnover). If you are unsure, I would post a photo and ask on here.
In regards to pumps, it's typically better to run two smaller sized pumps than one large pump. This way, if one fails, the other will keep your system up and running until you are able to replace the pump that crapped out. Also, running two smaller pumps can often be more efficient (more flow per watt of electricity consumed) than running one monster pump. Smaller pumps are also typically less noisy.
If you like the idea of a lot of flow, I would run two Laguna Max-Flo 2400 pumps. According to Laguna's flow chart, that would give you a total of 3,328GPH @ 6' head on only 168 watts. That's getting you nearly 20GPH per watt, which is really good. You'd be hard pressed to find a more efficient pump setup that gives you nearly 9x turnover per hour. My only concern would be whether or not you can push that much flow through your overflow teeth. If it turns out to be too much flow for the teeth, you have a few options:
1.) run only one pump and keep the other as a back-up. You'll still get decent flow (4.3X/hour) and it'll cost you less on your electric bill.
2.) leave one of the holes in the side overflow tower open (I would use the lowest hole so that you are skimming from the surface and pulling water from the bottom). You can buy a bulkhead overflow strainer to prevent any fish from getting sucked into the hole- Bulkreefsupply.com has a low profile one that would be perfect:
http://www.bulkreefsupply.com/low-profile-bulkhead-overflow-strainers.html Since you'd be running a Beananimal or Herbie system, your standpipe height will determine how much water drains into your sump when your pump is off.
3.) knock out some of the overflow teeth (least favorite option for aesthetic reasons).
Another option in terms of pumps is going with the newer variable speed DC pumps. I have read mixed review on them, so caveat emptor. I can vouch for Lagunas...I've been running mine for 6 years with no issues.
A rookie mistake I see a lot of people making on here is buying the cheapest big pump they can find. The upfront cost is low, but some of these pumps are really inefficient and can end up adding $25/month or more to your power bill. That might not seem like a lot of money, but if you have the tank setup for 10 years, that's $3,000+ spent on electricity that you would have saved by going with a more efficient pump. So yeah, spending an extra hundred or two now isn't so bad when you factor in you'll be saving thousands of dollars on your electric bill in the long run. The more efficient pump will typically pay for itself in the first year. Stay away from Danner Mag Drive pumps, anything labeled as a sump or utility pump or spa pumps. They are all energy hogs that are going to shoot your electric bill through the roof.
Good luck and please keep us posted on your progress. Looking forward to seeing your tank setup!
aldiaz33 gave some great advice.
