Stocking ideas for deep water reef

[Exoo]

I've got a 60 gallon aquarium that I've been running for a bit with just coral and few gobies for a while now, but I want to add all the current live stock to my main display and do a deep water aquarium with deep water acros, gorgonian and things like that. Kinda want a pair of candy bassets for it, but can't think of too many other deep water fish that would fit in that size aquarium. Any suggestions?

earls fairy wrasse (cirrhilabrus earlei)≈$1000, pugnose bass (Bullisichthys caribbaeus)≈$300, Lipogramma species (v pricey)≈$4000+, might want to look into other liopropoma species, but if you have a pair of candy basslets , maybe not the best idea. Joculata angelfish, Centropyge Joculator (sort of)≈$900, Helfrichi firefish, (Nematoleotris Helfrichi)≈$200, Nahacky's dwarf parrot (Cirrhilabrus Nahackyi)≈$450, Rose banded wrasse (Cirrhilabrus roseafascia)≈$300, Pelicier hawkfish (Plectranthias Pelicieri)≈$1500, Longnose Hawkfish (Oxycirrhites typus)≈$50-100. Also would be kinda helpful to know how much you're willing to pay because that would possibly change this list.

 

[Zionas]

Deep is a varied term and what’s considered somewhat / moderately deepwater might not be much to one of those Asian collectors with deep connections and deep pockets, or someone like Andrew Sandler. If we define deep as “more / most common below 100 feet”, I can think of a few:

-Black Cap Basslet (G. Melancara)

-Candy Basslet (L. Carambi)

-Helfrichi Firefish (N. Helfrichi)

-Tinker’s / Declivis / Mitratus / Burgessi Butterflyfish (C. “Roaps” Tinkeri / Declivis / Mitratus / Burgessi)

-Many Genicanthus angels (Spot Breast, Watanabei, Bellus, Japanese Half-Masked)

-“Maybe” (not sure about this one): Gold Flake Angel (A. Xanthopunctata), Griffis Angel (A. Griffisi), Bandit Angel (A. Arcuatus)

-Many Anthias (I don’t know all the specific species but do note some are difficult), a common deepwater one different from your typical Anthias is the Blotchy or Borbonius, also the Sunburst Anthias is different from your typical Anthias

-Starck’s Damselfish (C. Starcki)

-Dwarf angels (Colin’s, Multi-Bar, Venusta- none of these are easy)

-Some wrasses (not sure about specific species)

-Prognathodes butterflyfish

TBH I love cool deepwater fish (including the really deepwater ones found most commonly below 300 ft but those tend to be $$$$ or totally unobtainable)

One thing to keep in mind when going for a deepwater tank is many species suffer from decompression issues if not handled well.

 

[i cant think]

Deep is a varied term and what’s considered somewhat / moderately deepwater might not be much to one of those Asian collectors with deep connections and deep pockets, or someone like Andrew Sandler. If we define deep as “more / most common below 100 feet”, I can think of a few:

-Black Cap Basslet (G. Melancara)

-Candy Basslet (L. Carambi)

-Helfrichi Firefish (N. Helfrichi)

-Tinker’s / Declivis / Mitratus / Burgessi Butterflyfish (C. “Roaps” Tinkeri / Declivis / Mitratus / Burgessi)

-Many Genicanthus angels (Spot Breast, Watanabei, Bellus, Japanese Half-Masked)

-“Maybe” (not sure about this one): Gold Flake Angel (A. Xanthopunctata), Griffis Angel (A. Griffisi), Bandit Angel (A. Arcuatus)

-Many Anthias (I don’t know all the specific species but do note some are difficult), a common deepwater one different from your typical Anthias is the Blotchy or Borbonius, also the Sunburst Anthias is different from your typical Anthias

-Starck’s Damselfish (C. Starcki)

-Dwarf angels (Colin’s, Multi-Bar, Venusta- none of these are easy)

-Some wrasses (not sure about specific species)

-Prognathodes butterflyfish

TBH I love cool deepwater fish (including the really deepwater ones found most commonly below 300 ft but those tend to be $$$$ or totally unobtainable)

One thing to keep in mind when going for a deepwater tank is many species suffer from decompression issues if not handled well.

Some specific wrasses I can think of off the top of my head for being deeper water species are;
Cirrhilabrus roseafascia (This is a large species though)
Cirrhilabrus shutmani
Cirrhilabrus sanguineus
Cirrhilabrus bathyphilus
Cirrhilabrus efatensis
Cirrhilabrus briangreeni
Cirrhilabrus claire
Cirrhilabrus pylei
Cirrhilabrus finifenmaa
Cirrhilabrus earlei
Cirrhilabrus lanceolatus (Unavailable to the hobby to my knowledge)
Cirrhilabrus blatteus
Cirrhilabrus apterygia (Same as Lanceolatus)
Cirrhilabrus jordani (Deep water Hawaiian Endemic)
Cirrhilabrus johnsoni
Bodianus opercularis
Bodianus bimaculatus
Pseudojuloides atavai
Pseudojuloides zeus
Pseudojuloides labrynthus
Pseudojuloides edwardi
Pseudojuloides splendens
Pseudojuloides mesostigma
Pseudojuloides polynesia
Halichoeres peliceri
Halichoeres inornatus
Suzeichthys (This whole genius seems to be deep water)
Anampses lineatus
Anampses chrysocephalus (See C. jordani)
Anampses twistii
Anampses lennardi
Anampses femininus
Paracheilinus alfiani
Paracheilinus hemitaeniatus
Paracheilinus bellae
Paracheilinus nursalim
Paracheilinus piscilineatus
Xenojulis margaritaceus

Although, I don’t recommend any flasher species (Paracheilinus) for a tank less than 4’ as they LOVE to zoom and in small tanks they may crash into things such as the rocks or glass.