Reef Aquarium of Michael Lukaczyn
Introduction and History
For those who know me and those who don't, my name is Michael Lukaczyn and go by the name Aquabacs on the aquarium forums. My father indoctrinated me in marine aquariums at an early age and I have been addicted ever since. Over the years, I have had many types of aquariums from fish only to SPS aquariums. My latest venture has been for the last 3 + years, in which I have been keeping strictly only non-photosynthetic corals and crinoids.
System Profile
• Display Tank: 23.5" x 23.5" x 20" Rimless; 50 gallon Cadights Artisan series; Starfire glass (Front, Left and Right sides)
• Lighting: 2x Neo Arm (imported from Japan by Aquatouch) clamp style multi-position arm light fixture
• Protein Skimmer: NAC-6 by Bubble Magnus
•Water Circulation: Vortech MP40W; Tunze 1073.04 return pump; Danner Mag Drive 7
•Other Filtration: 1 liter of Fauna Marin Ultra-Lith in a Fauna Marin expandable mesh bag
MR1 Shorty Reactor by Next Reef
1/2 cup ESV Carbon
• Chiller: 1/10th HP DBA-075 by JBJ Lighting
• Controller: GHL/Pofilulux II connected via serial cable to a Asus Netbook (1005HAB)
• Lighting: 2x Neo Arm (imported from Japan by Aquatouch) clamp style multi-position arm light fixture
• Protein Skimmer: NAC-6 by Bubble Magnus
•Water Circulation: Vortech MP40W; Tunze 1073.04 return pump; Danner Mag Drive 7
•Other Filtration: 1 liter of Fauna Marin Ultra-Lith in a Fauna Marin expandable mesh bag
MR1 Shorty Reactor by Next Reef
1/2 cup ESV Carbon
• Chiller: 1/10th HP DBA-075 by JBJ Lighting
• Controller: GHL/Pofilulux II connected via serial cable to a Asus Netbook (1005HAB)
Lighting
Nanotuners 21 watt PAR 38 lamps left side is 12K with 40 degree optics and the right side is 20K with 40 degree optics. Secondary lights used: LeDio 9 Mystery Purple spot lamp and Nanotuners 21 watt PAR 38 all red with lamp 60 degree optics.
The lighting section for the aquarium was based on Japanese style LED spot lighting only. Since this aquarium is a non-photosynthetic aquarium, the lighting is used solely for aestetic purposes only. The fixtures can be adjusted to angle the lighting to where is desired to highlight the aquarium. The newest light I have added to my lighting array is the Ledio 9 LED mystery purple bulb. This bulb was the first to be brought over from Japan and visually is unique. You either love how the light highlights corals and makes them pop or you hate it. Red PAR38 LED lamp can be used to view nocturnal invertebrates without disturbing them since it seems that most can not see red light.
The lighting section for the aquarium was based on Japanese style LED spot lighting only. Since this aquarium is a non-photosynthetic aquarium, the lighting is used solely for aestetic purposes only. The fixtures can be adjusted to angle the lighting to where is desired to highlight the aquarium. The newest light I have added to my lighting array is the Ledio 9 LED mystery purple bulb. This bulb was the first to be brought over from Japan and visually is unique. You either love how the light highlights corals and makes them pop or you hate it. Red PAR38 LED lamp can be used to view nocturnal invertebrates without disturbing them since it seems that most can not see red light.
Water Circulation
Vortech MP40W set to 100% on reef crest mode in tank, Tunze 1073.04 return pump and a Danner Mag Drive 7 pump for chiller.
Feeding
Fishmate auto feeder and floating feeding ring used for dry foods.
Refrigerated Auto-feeding System
Avanti 1.7 cu. ft refrigerator
Bubble Magnus BM-T01 dosing pump
The refrigerated auto feeding system was taken from a design used by Steve Weast. The systems concept is to deliver refrigerated Reef Nutrition liquid foods to the aquarium consistantly throughout the day without the issue of foods spoiling.
Feeding & Supplements Schedule:
1) Daily---Using a Fish Mate auto feeder, Fauna Marin Ultra Sea fan, Fauna Marin Ultra Clam, and Fauna Marin Ultramin F is dispensed 4x a day, each time over a 2-hour period, continuously 24/7.
2) Daily---Using the refrigerated auto feeder
6 ml daily of Shellfish Diet (1ml every 4 hrs)
12 ml daily of OysterFeast (1ml every 2 hrs)
20 ml daily of Rotifeast (.83ml every hour)
3) Daily at 7am---.5ml of Fauna Marin UltraMin D and .5 ml of Fauna Marin UltraMin S is dosed manually to the aquarium
4) Daily at 6pm---frozen Piscine Energetics or Hikari mysis shrimp is defrosted in aquarium water and fed manually
5) Daily at 8pm---frozen Argent Cyclop-eeze is defrosted in aquarium water and fed manually
6) Feather stars seem to love Ultra min F! I frequently mix in 1/2 cup of aquarium water: a 1/8th of a teaspoon of Ultra Min F, frozen Argent Cyclop-eeze, 1ml of Reef Nutrition OysterFeast. Then I dose the feather stars directly using a Kent Sea Squirt.
7) Daily--- Lightly stir sections of the gravel in my aquarium allowing detritus into the water column
8) Daily---A bag of Fauna Marin Ultralith stones are located in the last chamber of the sump (I use them now instead of bio balls) the bag is shaken and I let the detritus flow into the main display. Fauna Marin Ultra Bio (3 drops) and Ultra Bak (.6ml) are dosed manually to the sump above the Ultralith stones.
Fishmate auto feeder and floating feeding ring used for dry foods.
Refrigerated Auto-feeding System
Avanti 1.7 cu. ft refrigerator
Bubble Magnus BM-T01 dosing pump
The refrigerated auto feeding system was taken from a design used by Steve Weast. The systems concept is to deliver refrigerated Reef Nutrition liquid foods to the aquarium consistantly throughout the day without the issue of foods spoiling.
Feeding & Supplements Schedule:
1) Daily---Using a Fish Mate auto feeder, Fauna Marin Ultra Sea fan, Fauna Marin Ultra Clam, and Fauna Marin Ultramin F is dispensed 4x a day, each time over a 2-hour period, continuously 24/7.
2) Daily---Using the refrigerated auto feeder
6 ml daily of Shellfish Diet (1ml every 4 hrs)
12 ml daily of OysterFeast (1ml every 2 hrs)
20 ml daily of Rotifeast (.83ml every hour)
3) Daily at 7am---.5ml of Fauna Marin UltraMin D and .5 ml of Fauna Marin UltraMin S is dosed manually to the aquarium
4) Daily at 6pm---frozen Piscine Energetics or Hikari mysis shrimp is defrosted in aquarium water and fed manually
5) Daily at 8pm---frozen Argent Cyclop-eeze is defrosted in aquarium water and fed manually
6) Feather stars seem to love Ultra min F! I frequently mix in 1/2 cup of aquarium water: a 1/8th of a teaspoon of Ultra Min F, frozen Argent Cyclop-eeze, 1ml of Reef Nutrition OysterFeast. Then I dose the feather stars directly using a Kent Sea Squirt.
7) Daily--- Lightly stir sections of the gravel in my aquarium allowing detritus into the water column
8) Daily---A bag of Fauna Marin Ultralith stones are located in the last chamber of the sump (I use them now instead of bio balls) the bag is shaken and I let the detritus flow into the main display. Fauna Marin Ultra Bio (3 drops) and Ultra Bak (.6ml) are dosed manually to the sump above the Ultralith stones.
Inhabitants
Fish:
Pseudoplesiops rosae (Rose Island Basslet)
Lubbockichthys multisquamatus (Finescale Dottyback)
West African Serranus sp.
Centrogenys vaidiensi
Odontanthias borbonius (Borbonious Anthias)
Pseudoplesiops rosae (Rose Island Basslet)
Lubbockichthys multisquamatus (Finescale Dottyback)
West African Serranus sp.
Centrogenys vaidiensi
Odontanthias borbonius (Borbonious Anthias)
Coral List:
Annella sp.
Astrogorgia sp.
Balanophyllia sp.
Dendrophyllia sp.
Dendronephthya
Menella sp.
Paraplexaura sp.
Rhizotrochus typus
Tubastrea aurea
Tubastrea faulkneri
Astrogorgia sp.
Balanophyllia sp.
Dendrophyllia sp.
Dendronephthya
Menella sp.
Paraplexaura sp.
Rhizotrochus typus
Tubastrea aurea
Tubastrea faulkneri
Last edited by a moderator:
