Chlorella vulgaris 0.5L (LIVE)

Live Chlorella is a natural green phytoplankton that supports the development of microfauna, feeds filter feeders, improves the biological diversity of the aquarium and helps create a stable food chain in a marine tank.

The best results are achieved with regular dosing and when used together with other marine phytoplankton species such as Nannochloropsis, Tetraselmis and Isochrysis.

Live Chlorella in a marine aquarium can be a very useful addition, but it is best treated as part of a phytoplankton mix rather than as the only food source.

Main benefits

1. Food for microfauna

Live Chlorella is a small single-celled alga that can be used by organisms such as rotifers, copepods, small zooplankton, larvae and some filter feeders. FAO reports that Chlorella has been one of the most commonly used algae for culturing the rotifer Brachionus plicatilis, a classic live food in aquaculture.

2. Indirect feeding of corals

Most corals do not “eat” large amounts of Chlorella itself as effectively as they consume zooplankton, but Chlorella helps increase the amount of small life in the aquarium. In other words, Chlorella first feeds the microfauna, and the microfauna later becomes a natural food source for LPS, SPS, soft corals and filter feeders.

3. Support for refugium and aquarium biology

Live phytoplankton may compete with unwanted microorganisms for nutrients. When dosed regularly and sensibly, it helps build a more stable food chain:

phytoplankton → zooplankton → corals/fish

4. Uptake of NO3 and PO4

Live Chlorella consumes nitrates and phosphates during growth. It should not be treated as the main method for reducing NO3/PO4, but rather as biological support. The effect depends on whether the cells actually remain alive, are consumed, or are removed by the skimmer/filtration.

5. Nutritional value

Chlorella vulgaris contains a high amount of protein — often reported at around 42–58% of dry weight — as well as amino acids, pigments and bioactive compounds. In the aquarium, this means a valuable “green” food for small life.

Important limitation

Chlorella is good, but it is not an ideal standalone marine phytoplankton because it usually contains little or none of the key marine fatty acids EPA and DHA. Studies on the fatty acid profile of Chlorella indicate that it is usually not rich in EPA/DHA, although it may contain ALA.

That is why, in a marine aquarium, it works best as part of a mix, for example:

Chlorella + Nannochloropsis + Tetraselmis + Isochrysis

This gives a better nutritional profile: protein, pigments, green phytoplankton, a fine food fraction and better fats for zooplankton.

Which aquariums benefit the most?

Live Chlorella is especially useful in aquariums with:

• many LPS/SPS/soft corals,
• sponges, tube worms, clams and sessile filter feeders,
• a refugium,
• copepods and rotifers,
• mandarins, pipefish and fish that benefit from microfauna,
• young systems where you want to develop micro-life.

What to watch out for

Do not dose too much at once. Too high a dose may cause cloudy water, bacterial film growth, dirtier glass, lower oxygen levels at night or increased load on the protein skimmer.

With live phytoplankton, small but regular doses usually work best.

Simple starting dose

At the beginning:

10–20 ml per 100 litres daily

After 1–2 weeks, the dose may be increased to:

30–50 ml per 100 litres daily

In heavily stocked aquariums with many filter feeders and rich microfauna, higher doses may be used, but water clarity, glass film, NO3, PO4 and coral response should be monitored carefully.

Shelf life when refrigerated: 8 weeks.