Led Zep

1. What size tank in gallons & aprox LxW:40 breeder---36x18x16"

2. Age of tank: approx 7 months----very new

3. Amount of liverock aprox. lb.: 55 lbs

4. Substrate Y/N lb. amount, thickness, type: carib sea super-reef 44 lbs--2.75-3"

5. Sump Y/N size in gallons: no external sump

6. Do you use a prefilter Y/N: no

7. Do you use a cover for the tank Y/N if Y what type?: yes--regular old versa-top,left open for gas exchange

8. Aprox amount of evaporation:1/2 gal per day(very approx)

9.Frequency of water changes & amount changed: weekly, about 8-10 gallons

10. Preferred salt mix: crystal sea reef mix

11. Preferred additives: b-ionic 2-part calcium buffer (daily) marc weiss coral vital &lsb, kent marine stromolyb, super iodine, occasional kalkwasser use to boost ca levels

12. Preferred test kits: aquarium systems, however recent problems with their copper kit

13. Method of adding calcium: b-ionic daily, weekly or bi-monthly kalkwasser supplementation.

14. Aprox water turnover X times per hour: 4-5 times in protein skimmer, over 10x with circulation pumps

15. Type of lighting i.e. MH, FLO, NO, HO,VHO, PC: 2x36" 95 watt ea. vho 50/50 and actinic--190 watts total, soon upgrading to 4 bulbs, as budget allows.

16. Type of bulbs: coralife megawatt, aqua-tinic

17. Aprox wattage per gallon: 5 watts/gallon

18. Duration of lighting cycle daily hours per day:10 hours on, 14 off

19. Do you use timers Y/N: yes

20. Do you use TWP? (tapwater purification RO/DI) Y/N & type: yes--micron&carbon chambers routed to two aquarium pharmaceuticals tap water purifier/de-ionizers run in series with each other to provide double de-ionizing capacity.

21. Aprox number of fish: 5

22. Aprox number of corals: 18(roughly, but have had spectacular success with my bubble coral, sprouting a new head already)

23. Aprox number of inverts:35

24. Do you feed your corals? Y/N & what: yes and no. I dose 2-3 times per week with marc weiss products, and supplement with shrimp/frozen silversides to some specimens about every 10 days or so

25. Estimated cost of your tank complete:1200-1400$

26. What you feel is the biggest challenge in keeping a reef tank: not feeling despair when a new addition does poorly. I have had a few unrecoverable trach/lobophyllia that I'm certain I did nothing wrong, but they died anyway;

27. What has been your most useful method in acquiring information? List in priority: word of mouth from other aquarists, fama publications, sprung/delbeek references,

28. What type of protein skimmer are you using? CC / Venturi / Downdraft manufacturer?: venturi backpack skimmer by creative plastics research/rio powerhead