1. Why can't a monitor activate his own instalation and requires a "reclaimer" to do so?
To prevent rampant Moniters from killing everyone.
2. If you are on a halo ring while it is fired, are you subject to it's effects?
Yes
3. If the Ark is safe from the Halos firing range, why did the forerunners not take shelter there?
They did but the Flood found them.
4. What was the "soluton" Cortana had in Halo 3 that would destroy the flood without activating the Halos? (Go into deep detail about this)
Halo 4 ....
5. Are there still some flood specimens still on some of the installations?
Most likely