1. ATI B+ come on at 2pm. UVL SA come on at 2:30pm and halides come on 3pm. They then go off in reverse. Halides at 9pm, UVL SA at 9:30pm and ATI B+ at 10pm. (My fans come on and off with the ATI B+)
Total period, about 8 hours.
2. I do add 2 drops of Lugols every once in a while. I do not have a scehdule like I do with the CAL/ALK/MAG. I do not test for iodine, therefore I don't want to get too heavy into dosing. I do use it for dips though.
3. I test weekly for SG, Cal and Alk. I just use my cheapo hydrometer for SG and Salifert for the other.
4. No fuge or sump because when I bought the tank I was only 20 years old and it was a FO tank. I started adding LR and some low light corals until I am where I am now. I will have a sump and fuge when I upgrade to a lrager tank.
5. Yeah, I make up for my lack of equipment in changing water. A couple years ago I started loosing interest, lack of money, and water changes became a once a month, or so, event. All my zoas crashed and my tank looked like crap, so I never skip a water change now. I think the water changes help add the trace elements that most reefers don't supp.
6. Halides= 1 year and I have only had my T5s since Jan. Before I was running PCs and they were changed every 9 months. I would never go back to PCs after having these T5s.
7. Randys 3 part is his simple Cal/Alk and Mag
Cal=Dowflake, or for me Hardness Plus from a pool supply store, mixed with a gallon of RO
Alk=Baking Soda mixed with a gallon of RO
Mag=Epsom salt mixed with a gallon of RO, although he has a better recipe using Peladow? I just have not had the chance to get any of that yet.
You can find the exact recipe/ratios in the Chemistry forum under articles.
8. No. I was running a bit lower, around 300, when I was using B-Ionic 2-part. I ahve not had that problem since switching the the homemade stuff. (Much easier on my wallet also)
9. Mainly because of my financials. I have only been out of college for 2 years and just now have enough money to start really getting into it. Also, I do not own a home yet, so I do not want to move around a large tank with tons of equipment. When I do own a home and have more money I will go with a larger tank and SOME fancy equipment. I seem to be doing fine, so I don't see a reason to had thousands of dollars worth of equipment. I think the only things I would add would be a sump, fuge, better skimmer and nicer powerheads. (all on a larger tank of course)
10. Corals are rarley fed. I feed mysis to my fish and sometimes certain corals will catch a piece. Usually once a month I will go and hand feed things like my blastos, acans and the Nukes.
Thanks for your interest in my tank. I always love sharing specs on it and am always willing to help a fellow reefer when they have Qs.