Best anemones for beginners

[FishTank]

I'm building my first saltwater aquarium and would like to eventually put an anemone in right now I'm working on a "stocking list" and was wondering what anemones would work best for a 30 gallon tank

 

[twelvefive]

RFA or BTA

 

[Shibaken3]

BTA

 

[FishTank]

RFA or BTA

so RFA would be great but I find there are alot of differences between specimens

this one looks very nice similar to the green anemones I grew up seeing in the tidepools

vs this one which looks like a tuxedo urchin with curly spines

 

[Mjl714]

Rainbow bubble tip anemone.

 

[MoshJosh]

Rock Flower or Mini Maxi get my vote!

 

[FishTank]

Rainbow bubble tip anemone.

those are beautiful if i was to get a bubble i would like to get a neon green

 

[FishTank]

Rock Flower or Mini Maxi get my vote!

the mini carpets are super pretty as well but I've heard they can be quite aggressive even killing their fish/crabs that use them as a host and small fish and inverts

 

[FishTank]

if I can i would like to get something from the genus Anthopleura

 

[MoshJosh]

Then go long tentacle? Will "need" sand, keep that in mind if you plan on going BB.

 

[FishTank]

Then go long tentacle? Will "need" sand, keep that in mind if you plan on going BB.

listen I like the rock anemone but why in some pictures do they look like tuxedo urchins (side note: will anemones kill macroalgae like lettuce grapes and or dragons tounge)

 

[Kmst80]

Mini Maxis are super nice too.

 

[JoJosReef]

BTAs are not beginner nems. They have specific light and flow requirements and can do very poorly in an immature tank where water parameters are difficult to maintain stable. Always exceptions, of course, but you see numerous posts about people's deflating/detaching BTAs, and it often becomes evident that some requirements aren't met.
@vetteguy53081 gave me a lot of guidance in the early days that finally led me to having success with BTAs.

RFAs are much more forgiving. Do well in a variety of lighting, are fine as long as the flow isn't blowing their skirts over their heads and are generally quite peaceful. Generally hardy once they put their foot down and typically stay put unless getting stung by others (lookin' at you, torch!) Or something else happens that irks them--I had an autofeeder that went berserk and dumped like 50 pellets that all landed on one of my RFAs and caused it's demise.

No experience with maxi minis, but others swear they are as easy as RFAs.

I think RFAs are the perfect beginner nem, and you can't complain about the color, either!

 

[FishTank]

BTAs are not beginner nems. They have specific light and flow requirements and can do very poorly in an immature tank where water parameters are difficult to maintain stable. Always exceptions, of course, but you see numerous posts about people's deflating/detaching BTAs, and it often becomes evident that some requirements aren't met.
@vetteguy53081 gave me a lot of guidance in the early days that finally led me to having success with BTAs.

RFAs are much more forgiving. Do well in a variety of lighting, are fine as long as the flow isn't blowing their skirts over their heads and are generally quite peaceful. Generally hardy once they put their foot down and typically stay put unless getting stung by others (lookin' at you, torch!) Or something else happens that irks them--I had an autofeeder that went berserk and dumped like 50 pellets that all landed on one of my RFAs and caused it's demise.

No experience with maxi minis, but others swear they are as easy as RFAs.

I think RFAs are the perfect beginner nem, and you can't complain about the color, either!

like I said I love the RFAs but their tentacles look super short in some photos is there a reason for that?

 

[AVEN]

Personally I found easy to manage the following:

1. Rock Flower Anemone (Epicystis crucifer)
2. Condy Anemone (Condylactis gigantea) : My favorite when I start :)
3. Carpet Anemone (Stichodactyla gigantea): I made the mistake of putting this anemone in too small tank and it became big!

 

[MoshJosh]

like I said I love the RFAs but their tentacles look super short in some photos is there a reason for that?

Yes, there’s a lot of variety among specimens. Your best bet is to buy one in person, or get one for a site that sells WYSIWYG. @Tidal Gardens have a great video about rock flowers, I recommend checking it out if you are interested.

 

[FishTank]

Yes, there’s a lot of variety among specimens. Your best bet is to buy one in person, or get one for a site that sells WYSIWYG. @Tidal Gardens have a great video about rock flowers, I recommend checking it out if you are interested.

I see thanks ill check that out

 

[MoshJosh]

I see thanks ill check that out

I don’t know if there’s a good answer as to WHY there is so much variation in comparison to other nems. . . but care requirements should be the same for all the different RF “morphs”.

 

[FishTank]

I don’t know if there’s a good answer as to WHY there is so much variation in comparison to other nems. . . but care requirements should be the same for all the different RF “morphs”.

last question is when the males are spawning what happens to all the "" when there is no female like is it just intense water changes to get it all out or does it just eventually go away