Live Reef Flourish Phytoplankton UK - An Accessible Daily Dose of Five-Species Live Microalgae

For reef keepers who understand the role of phytoplankton in a marine ecosystem but have not yet built a consistent dosing routine, Live Reef Flourish is the most accessible point of entry in the Reefphyto phytoplankton range. The same five-species blend as our Reef Flourish Super Concentrate, Nannochloropsis oculata, Tetraselmis, Isochrysis, Pavlova, and Thalassiosira weissflogii, cultured fresh at our specialist Wales facility, at a dose rate of 1 to 4 drops per 80 litres daily. A genuine live phytoplankton product at a price and dose format that makes starting a daily habit straightforward.

Why Phytoplankton Is the Most Commonly Skipped Part of Reef Nutrition

Ask most reef keepers whether they dose phytoplankton and the honest answer is usually some version of "not consistently." Fish get fed daily. Corals receive target feeding when the keeper has time. But phytoplankton, the microscopic microalgae that forms the nutritional base of every marine ecosystem, is dosed occasionally at best, or not at all.

The reasons are practical rather than ignorance. Large bottles feel like a commitment. Measuring millilitres every day feels like a chore. The effects are gradual and cumulative rather than immediately visible, which makes it easier to deprioritise when the tank looks broadly acceptable. And without a simple, low-cost format that removes most of that friction, many keepers never establish the habit at all.

Live Reef Flourish addresses this directly. A small bottle, a low price point, a straightforward drop-per-litre dose, and a three-month shelf life that means the bottle remains fresh through the dosing period. The barrier to starting is as low as it can be without compromising on the quality of what is in the bottle.

The Five Species and What They Contribute

The five-species composition of Live Reef Flourish is not arbitrary. Each species covers a different particle size range, fatty acid profile, and feeding niche within the reef ecosystem, ensuring that a single daily dose provides nutrition to the broadest possible range of animals simultaneously.

Nannochloropsis oculata (20%) - Fine Filtration and EPA

At 1 to 5 microns, Nannochloropsis oculata is the smallest and most widely studied species in the blend. Its high EPA content makes it one of the most nutritionally significant phytoplankton species in marine aquaculture, and its ability to absorb dissolved nutrients including ammonia, nitrites, and phosphates from the water column contributes a measurable water quality benefit alongside its nutritional role. It feeds coral polyps, fine filter feeders, and the smallest microfauna in the system.

Tetraselmis suecica (20%) - Lipids, Amino Acids, Copepod Nutrition

Tetraselmis is a larger green flagellate measuring 8 to 12 microns with a rich lipid and amino acid profile. It is particularly valued for the nutritional enrichment it provides to copepods and rotifers. Organisms that consume Tetraselmis produce progeny with a significantly better fatty acid profile than those fed on a single-species diet. In a reef system with an active refugium, the regular presence of Tetraselmis in the water column improves the nutritional quality of every copepod your fish ultimately consumes.

Isochrysis galbana (25%) - DHA for Larvae and Zooplankton

Isochrysis galbana carries the highest DHA content of any species in the blend. DHA is the omega-3 fatty acid most critical for neurological development, visual function, and growth in marine larvae and juvenile fish. In a mixed reef, it enriches every filter feeder, invertebrate, and zooplankton organism that consumes it, improving the nutritional density of the ecosystem at every level above it in the food chain.

Pavlova lutheri (15%) - Support for Delicate Filter Feeders

Pavlova lutheri provides a balanced EPA, DHA, and sterol profile that benefits the organisms most likely to show limited response to simpler phytoplankton products. Fan corals, Christmas tree worms, feather duster worms, sponges, and soft-bodied filter feeders that require nutritional complexity beyond what Nannochloropsis alone provides all benefit from its inclusion. Its presence in the blend ensures the whole filter feeding community is catered for rather than the most robust feeders only.

Thalassiosira weissflogii (20%) - Larger Filter Feeders and Diatom Nutrition

At 5 to 20 microns, Thalassiosira weissflogii is the largest species in the blend and the most accessible for organisms that cannot efficiently process smaller microalgae cells. Clams, tridacna, larger benthic invertebrates, and many NPS corals respond particularly well to diatom-based nutrition. Its silica cell wall makes it more resistant to degradation in the water column than softer-celled species, giving slower-moving filter feeders more opportunity to intercept it after dosing.

What to Expect When You Start Dosing Live Reef Flourish

The effects of regular phytoplankton dosing accumulate over days and weeks rather than hours. Understanding the timeline helps confirm that the routine is working and sets realistic expectations for what changes to look for.

In the first week, corals that are accustomed to a phytoplankton-poor water column will typically begin to show improved polyp extension as they detect planktonic particles. Filter feeders that have been partially retracted become more visibly extended and active. These early responses are often subtle but consistently reported by keepers who pay close attention to their animals' daily behaviour.

Between weeks two and four, with consistent daily dosing, copepod populations in a refugium begin to show improved density as their primary food source becomes reliably available. Coral pigmentation starts to deepen as specific fatty acids and carotenoids accumulate through the food chain. Microfauna activity in the substrate and live rock increases.

Over two to three months of consistent dosing, the cumulative effect on tank biology is the most significant change. Keepers who maintain a daily phytoplankton habit consistently report stronger coral growth, more stable copepod populations, greater filter feeder activity, and a general sense that the tank has become more alive rather than simply more maintained. These are the outcomes that convert a sceptic into a committed phytoplankton doser, but they only happen with consistency, which is why the accessible format and price point of Live Reef Flourish matters.

How to Dose Live Reef Flourish

Add 1 to 4 drops per 80 litres of tank volume daily into a high-flow area of the tank. Turn off your protein skimmer and any UV or ozone sterilisation for 30 to 60 minutes after dosing to allow the live cells to circulate and be consumed before removal. Dosing in the evening under reduced lighting helps preserve cell viability in the water column for longer.

Begin at the lower end of the dosing range, 1 drop per 80 litres, for the first two weeks while your filter feeding community adjusts to the new food source. If the water clears quickly and you want to increase biological input, move towards 2 to 3 drops per 80 litres. Heavily stocked systems with dense coral and filter feeder populations can dose at the upper range.

Store refrigerated and use within three months of delivery. Shake gently before each use. A simple daily routine of shaking, adding drops to a high-flow area, and turning the skimmer back on after an hour is genuinely achievable in under a minute and is all that is required to maintain consistent phytoplankton supply.

Live Reef Flourish, Reef Flourish Super Concentrate, and 5 Species Phytoplankton - Choosing the Right Product

The Reefphyto phytoplankton range contains three products sharing the same five-species composition. Understanding the practical differences helps you choose the right format for your system and dosing style.

Live Reef Flourish doses at 1 to 4 drops per 80 litres daily. It is the most accessible entry point in price and dose format, with a smaller financial commitment, a more generous dose volume per drop, and a straightforward way to start a daily phytoplankton habit. It is the right choice for keepers new to phytoplankton, smaller systems, or those who prefer to dose a more visible amount and observe the water column response.

Reef Flourish Super Concentrate doses at 1 to 4 drops per 265 litres daily, making it approximately three times more concentrated per drop. The same or lower volume of product covers a significantly larger tank or extends further across the same tank. It carries a higher price per bottle but a lower cost per litre of tank volume dosed over time. It is the right choice for keepers who have established a daily dosing habit and want to scale up the economy, or for larger systems where the Live Reef Flourish dose rate would require a disproportionate number of drops daily.

The 5 Species Phytoplankton in standard concentration is a different format entirely, using millilitre dosing rather than drops and available in much larger volumes from 100ml to 5000ml. It is suited to high-demand systems requiring significant daily volumes, keepers who run copepod culture programmes and need to feed cultures at scale, and public aquariums or breeding facilities requiring bulk quantities.

Many keepers use Live Reef Flourish to establish the daily habit, then graduate to the Super Concentrate as the routine becomes consistent and the economics of the more concentrated format make more sense at their dose rate.

Frequently Asked Questions About Live Reef Flourish

Is this product suitable for a nano reef?

Yes. The drop-based dosing format is particularly well suited to smaller systems where millilitre-based dosing of standard-concentration products can result in overcrowding of the water column. At 1 drop per 80 litres, a 50-litre nano reef requires less than a single drop per day, making it easy to dose accurately and avoid overdosing.

What is the difference between this and the Super Concentrate?

Both products share the same species composition and freshness standards. The difference is concentration. Live Reef Flourish doses at 1 to 4 drops per 80 litres daily. Reef Flourish Super Concentrate doses at 1 to 4 drops per 265 litres daily. The Super Concentrate provides more doses per bottle and a lower cost per litre of tank volume dosed, but carries a higher upfront price. Live Reef Flourish is the more accessible starting point; the Super Concentrate is the more economical choice for established dosing routines.

Can I use this alongside live copepods?

Yes, and this is one of the most effective combinations in a reef feeding programme. Regular phytoplankton dosing sustains the copepod population in your refugium by providing their primary food source consistently. Copepods dosed into a phytoplankton-rich system establish and reproduce at significantly higher rates than those introduced to a phytoplankton-poor environment.

Does it affect water clarity?

At the recommended dosing rates for most home reef systems, Live Reef Flourish should not cause visible cloudiness. A very slight green tint may be visible immediately after dosing, which typically clears within one to two hours as the cells are consumed. If cloudiness persists beyond a few hours, reduce the dose slightly until your filter feeding community builds to a level where it clears the cells more efficiently.

Can I use this in a system with a UV steriliser?

Turn off your UV steriliser for 30 to 60 minutes after dosing, as UV light kills phytoplankton cells before they can be consumed. Resume normal UV operation after this period. For keepers whose sterilisers run continuously on a timer, dosing at a period when the UV can be paused, typically in the evening, gives the cells the best opportunity to be taken up by the tank's filter feeding community.

Start Your Phytoplankton Routine Today

Live Reef Flourish is the starting point for a daily live phytoplankton habit. Once the routine is established and the results are visible, stepping up to the Reef Flourish Super Concentrate or the 5 Species Phytoplankton in standard concentration becomes a natural progression as your system's needs and your confidence in phytoplankton dosing grow. For keepers who want to experience the complete food web effect in a single first order, the Zooplankton Live Food Mix includes a phytoplankton Reef Shot alongside live copepod and rotifer pouches, the simplest possible introduction to feeding your reef at every trophic level simultaneously.