Live Chlorella Vulgaris Culture

Science-Backed. Wisconsin-Grown. Veteran-Owned.

Before there is Daphnia, before there is Moina, before there is anything your fish will eat — there is Chlorella.

Chlorella vulgaris is a single-celled green microalga that has been sustaining aquatic food chains since before fish existed. It converts light, CO₂, and a small quantity of dissolved nutrients into biomass with an efficiency no higher plant approaches. In the SC live food system, Chlorella is the base: it feeds the Daphnia, it feeds the Moina, and through them it feeds your fish.

Meet Chlorella Vulgaris

Each cell is just 4–6 µm in diameter — invisible to the naked eye individually, but visible as a vivid green suspension at culture density. Chlorella reproduces by autospore formation: each cell divides internally to produce 2–16 daughter cells. At optimal temperature (25–30°C) with adequate light, populations can double every 6–24 hours.

Exceptional Nutritional Profile

Chlorella vulgaris was the subject of serious post-WWII research as a potential high-efficiency protein source for human nutrition. The reason: its protein content per unit of cultivation area exceeds conventional crops by orders of magnitude, and its amino acid profile is essentially complete.

When Daphnia or Moina eat log-phase Chlorella, they package these nutrients in a bioavailable form that processed foods cannot match. The phospholipids remain intact. The Vitamin C survives because the animal is still alive. The carotenoids transfer directly into the fish's pigmentation.

The Log-Phase Advantage

Not all Chlorella is equal. Growth follows a predictable curve:

• Log phase (bright lime green) — cells actively dividing, thin cell walls, maximum digestibility. This is what your Daphnia and Moina need.
• Stationary phase (dark green) — nutrients exhausted, cell walls thicken, digestibility drops.

SC cultures are maintained in log phase and gut-loaded for 48 hours before every harvest — so the Daphnia or Moina you receive are carrying a full bolus of fresh, bioavailable Chlorella when they reach your fish.

Beyond the Aquarium

Chlorella is one of the most versatile organisms on earth. Our customers grow it primarily to feed live cultures, but its applications reach far beyond the aquarium hobby:

Human Health Supplement

Chlorella has been sold as a dietary supplement since the 1950s, initially developed in Japan following World War II research into high-efficiency food sources. Today the global Chlorella supplement market exceeds $250 million annually. Research supports:

• Immune stimulation — beta-1,3-glucan activates macrophages and Natural Killer cells
• Antioxidant activity — chlorophyll, beta-carotene, lutein, zeaxanthin, Vitamin E, Vitamin C, and superoxide dismutase (SOD enzyme)
• Heavy metal chelation — cell wall components bind lead, cadmium, and mercury
• Growth promotion — the Chlorella Growth Factor (CGF), identified in 1950s poultry research, accelerated growth in chicks, pigs, and calves by 10–20%

Chlorella vulgaris holds GRAS (Generally Recognized As Safe) status in the United States. Surplus log-phase concentrate from your aquarium culture is food-safe and nutritious — SC makes no medical claims, but the aquaculture literature on Chlorella as a human supplement is extensive.

Cosmetics & Skin Care

Chlorella extract appears in skin care products as a source of peptides, chlorophyll, and antioxidants. Its high chlorophyll content is used in cleansing soaps, face masks, and topical formulations marketed for detoxification and anti-aging effects. Some natural soap makers use concentrated Chlorella paste as a colorant and nutrient additive.

Biofuel & Industrial Applications

Chlorella is one of the leading candidates for algae-based biofuel production. Under nitrogen-limited conditions, Chlorella accumulates lipids (up to 40% dry weight) that can be extracted and converted to biodiesel through transesterification. Global research institutions and startups are developing industrial-scale photobioreactor systems specifically for Chlorella-based biofuel. Industrial raceway pond production can yield 20–40 tons of dry biomass per hectare per year — far exceeding soy or palm oil for energy per acre.

At hobby scale, this means your Chlorella culture is the same organism at the cutting edge of renewable energy research. The biology that feeds your fish is the same biology that researchers are scaling to replace petroleum.

What We Ship

SC ships a 500ml live Chlorella vulgaris culture in log-phase growth, plus a 250ml algae growth nutrient solution. Your container is your starter culture vessel. Place it under a 6500K light, connect gentle aeration, and it will begin doubling within 24–48 hours of arrival.

A 1-liter Chlorella culture maintained in log phase can support a 10-gallon Daphnia or Moina culture with daily feeding. Scale up from there as your system grows.

The Foundation of the Three-Organism System

Chlorella feeds everything. Daphnia magna (covering 1.5–5 mm fish) and Moina macrocopa (covering fry and small-mouthed fish at 0.25–1.6 mm) both depend on log-phase Chlorella for the nutritional quality that makes them exceptional live food. Together, the three organisms cover every fish size from first-feeding fry through large adult cichlids — with no size gap and continuous year-round production.

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