Deepwater Hawaiian Reef

[michael_cb_125]

Good Afternoon Everyone!

I have had my Elos120 for quite a while, and have not really "finished" stocking it. I have had many ideas and I have made my mind up several times, only to change it yet again.

Here are the system specs:

Elos120 (92 gallons)
ATB White Standard 840
Ecoxotic Stunner/Panorama Custom LED Fixture
Tank is covered

I have basically set this system up to showcase my lovely pair of Apolemichthys arcuatus, which it does perfectly. That said, having a 90 gallon tank with only two fish seems kinda duh...

So I think that I have decided (again) to try my hand a recreating a deepwater Hawaiian Reef.

Any thoughts or suggestions would be great. I would love some input from divers or collectors who have seen this type of environment in person.

My bandits will be the centerpiece fish and I would love to add species that are typically found associating with them in the wild.


Thanks for any suggestions.

~Michael

 

[michael_cb_125]

As far as fish goes I am leaning towards the following:

Cardinals (Hawaiian Endemic)
Anthias (Hawaiian Endemic)
Butterflies (Hawaiian Endemic)
Angels (Hawaiian Endemic)

Any other ideas?

Any diving shots of this habitat that I am trying to recreate?

Thanks

~Michael

 

[ccampbell57]

Fuscipinnis or sunset hog....otherwise go with the bicolor anthias or a few flame wrasse

 

[michael_cb_125]

I would love to get a group of Fuscipinnis, that said arent most that are collected large (over 4").

~Michael

 

[juuniz]

sunset hog FTW

 

[Poomba]

Ventralis?
I think PIA gets in Pseudanthias hawaiiensis occasionally.

 

[michael_cb_125]

Thanks for the input everyone!
I had a chance to get a sunset hog a few months ago, but passed.

I really like the Hawaiian Long Fin Anthias, but they have such a horrible survival rate in captivity.

I was thinking about trying a harem of Flame Wrasses, a group of small bicolors and maybe a pair of potters.

I really tend to lean toward the obscure and odd fish, any ideas?

~Michael

 

[curlykid]

you could get a pair of those yellow hawaiian deepwater anthias. i don't know the exact name.

 

[tcmfish]

Don't bicolor anthias get big? And I know you want endemic stuff, but aren't the other inhabitants not endemic, like the shrimp?

 

[michael_cb_125]

Yeah Bicolors can get large.

I would love to keep all Hawaiian endemic species, but that would be very difficult. I am just wanting to keep FISH that are found in HI.

Here is what I have to work with:


~Michael

 

[AuroraDrvr]

Bicolors get about the size of Lyretails, which are perfectly fine for a 92 gallon tank. I have a trio of Bicolors (and pair of Lyretails) in a std. 90g and they're fine. Just make sure you get Hawaiian Bicolors, and not indos. They aren't as vivid. My trio was collected in Hawaii.

 

[tcoral]

Hawaiian dwarf golden eels .

 

[Curious George]

Tinkeri Butterfly----My 2nd Favorite Fish!!!

 

[michael_cb_125]

Ahh..Yes, a Chaetodon tinkeri would be awesome. I really do love the dorsal spines and perky attitude of this species. I think that one of these fish together with my bandits would make a neat display. That said, I do not want a "huge" 4.5" Tinkers in with my little Bandit Beauties and I know how difficult sub 3" tinkers are to come by.....

~Michael

 

[9thwonder]

I vote on ventralis anthias, potters angel, and potters leopard wrasse

 

[tcmfish]

Can't go wrong with potter's and flame wrasses, but I always try and incorporate as many colors as possible, so potter's and flame wrasses with a blue fish or purple fish.

 

[freedive43]

You mention that you would like to recreate a deepwater Hawaiian reef environment. How deep exactly are you thinking? The fish that you mentioned like potters angel, cardinals, etc. are found in relatively shallow water (from about 30'). The substrate and reef appearance does not take on a noticeable change until roughly 380-450'. At this deepwater reef environment there is a distinct lack of living coral and the ledge is comprised of what appears to be the fossilized remains of a once shallow reef. The main species at this depth are prognathodes basabei, roa excelsa, holanthias fuscipennis, bodianus sanguines, leoproma aurora and a few bandeds and tinkers. I have countless hours of gopro footage from our dives, unfortunately I haven't had time to edit it yet. If you would like an idea of what a true deepwater Hawaiian reef tank looks like, take a look at the Waikiki Aquarium's deepwater exhibit. Good luck.

 

[usatennisfan]

I LOVE my lantern toby. I vote one of those.

 

[marrstarr]

I vote potter angel, flame wrasse, tinker butterfly. All awesome Hawaii fish.

 

[michael_cb_125]

Thanks Rufus!
I was hoping you would comment! Dont worry about editing just post the raw footage

In your opinion what what would be the ideal tankmates for my bandits?

What other "small" fish do you encounter at these extreme depths?

~Michael