Rock Flower Downsides?

[Sean Clark]

Great. Now I have to go buy some rock flowers. Thanks everybody.

 

[HippieDrill]

I’m up to around 20 (5 of them babies) in my 50 gallon tank. Only 3 of them have ever moved. I also keep Sexy Anemone Shrimp in the tank. Rest of tank is LPS, Zoas, Leathers.

They are my favorite.

 

[kennedysherman]

Downside: you spend a lot of money on a really cool flower and it hides from you.

 

[paparoof]

The downside to my first RFA was that no one told me that my peppermint shrimp would eat it. That was an expensive snack.

Then one day I noticed the peppermint was dead (no, not just a molt) so off he went and in came a new RFA which is now huge and healthy and happy.

 

[paparoof]

Downside: you spend a lot of money on a really cool flower and it hides from you.

Mine is behind a rock so I can only see him from the side panel - can't see 'em at all from the front panel. I moved the rock for a couple days to expose him out in the open - trying to entice him to pick a new spot but he just sat there proud as could be, so I just put the rock back and left well enough alone.

 

[dfos00]

It's Friday and I am wishing the work day away thinking about some future additions I would like to see in my tank down the road. I'm looking to stock forgiving inhabitants and softies. So far my only experience is with GSP and leathers.

I'm really drawn to the look of rock flower nems. Having never had any, can people weigh in some pros and cons. difficulty level etc. Do's and don'ts...... would my tank even support them?
Tank is a Biocube 32 with sock lighting (not planning on upgrading). Over a year old.

Hit my with your knowledge!

Thanks!

I have 7 in a stock 32 gal led biocube with no issues. They mostly stay put. I have even seen them spawning once sofar

 

[mmadderom]

What about my lighting though?

They are one anemone that doesn’t care what your lighting it. They will adapt. Rock flowers really are as simple as simple gets in a marine tank.

 

[mmadderom]

The downside to my first RFA was that no one told me that my peppermint shrimp would eat it. That was an expensive snack.

Then one day I noticed the peppermint was dead (no, not just a molt) so off he went and in came a new RFA which is now huge and healthy and happy.

Never heard of that. I keep rock flower nems and peppermint shrimp without issue

 

[Scott Sheeler]

Yes please! I don’t have stellar lighting so it would be fun to see in whites :)

Put black light on them there awesome

 

[rmorris_14]

Great. Now I have to go buy some rock flowers. Thanks everybody.

 

[Mkus]

Simple easy and beautiful mine have not moved since I placed them in my tank

 

[mmcguire317]

It's Friday and I am wishing the work day away thinking about some future additions I would like to see in my tank down the road. I'm looking to stock forgiving inhabitants and softies. So far my only experience is with GSP and leathers.

I'm really drawn to the look of rock flower nems. Having never had any, can people weigh in some pros and cons. difficulty level etc. Do's and don'ts...... would my tank even support them?
Tank is a Biocube 32 with sock lighting (not planning on upgrading). Over a year old.

Hit my with your knowledge!

Thanks!

Started with 1 and stock lighting in a Fluval Flex 32 and like others mentioned I now have a garden area of 5. I put a 1/2 inch pvc end cap into the sand with a little sand in it then place the rock flower into the cap. In 3 years they have not moved at all. I have rearranged them by just moving the caps to different areas. Best part is feeding time.

 

[Garia666]

Biggest downside is that they have the ability to float and therefore get eaten by another coral.

 

[Korkuc36]

Only downside is that they are addicting. Once you have 1 orange and pink one you are gonna want 10 more to start a garden. Plus they don't really travel. Alot of people think you need sps for a colorful tank. Not true. Rock flowers bring just as much color, if not more.

 

[mylertitchell]

Additive. Escalates very quickly.

 

[rmorris_14]

Additive. Escalates very quickly.

Those are gorgeous!

 

[Corals.com]

The only downside we see is that once you get one, you’ll want them all! They’re very hardy, easy to care for and generally stay put. They’re pretty quick to attach too. Not typically one of those nems that will float around and get sucked up in a powerhead accidentally as they’re settling in. Very adaptable to various lighting. Most prefer lower parts of your tank. They’re very easy going and a hands off type of nem. They do well with eating mysis and brine too. Usually stay put where you place them! Top of our list as far as anemones go! Good luck to you! Lots of great info for you in your thread from everyone!

 

[sshumer14]

The only downside we see is that once you get one, you’ll want them all! They’re very hardy, easy to care for and generally stay put. They’re pretty quick to attach too. Not typically one of those nems that will float around and get sucked up in a powerhead accidentally as they’re settling in. Very adaptable to various lighting. Most prefer lower parts of your tank. They’re very easy going and a hands off type of nem. They do well with eating mysis and brine too. Usually stay put where you place them! Top of our list as far as anemones go! Good luck to you! Lots of great info for you in your thread from everyone!

I have 5 very nicely placed on the bottom of my 65 gallon. Tank is a year old and is all softies. Need to focus on about a 7 inch rock as the highest in the tank and would love to make a garden as the focal point. But, everything I see shows them in the lower parts of tanks. Any shot they’d stay out on a higher rock mid way up the water column?

 

[ellisz]

The downside I have found is they reproduce and end up in areas I really did not want them. I started with 3 and have about 8 now. Mostly on one side of my 65 but I have them next to Acros or in crevasses on the other side of the tank around the tank. As with most corals, propagation and/or control will be needed at some point.

 

[TonyK_Az]

My least favorite part of them is they seem to find their "happy place" right in the middle of zoa colonies. Sometimes they move there sometimes it just where the babies pop up. However it small price for really nice looking creatures.

I have three total, two are happy where I put them but the third keeps moving all over the place. It is also the biggest of the bunch. I am thinking of getting more of them but will make sure to ask for them on the smaller side, this way they do not destroy my scape as much until they find their happy place.