Reefphyto Tropical Flake Deluxe 45g

Most tropical fish keepers cycle through the same handful of supermarket flakes without ever questioning whether their fish are actually thriving or simply surviving. The difference is subtle at first — colour that is adequate rather than vivid, fish that feed without obvious enthusiasm, growth that proceeds but never impresses. The food is being eaten. Something is still missing.

The gap is almost always the same. Standard tropical flakes are cheap to produce and broadly acceptable as a maintenance diet. They keep fish alive. They rarely push fish to their full expression of colour, size, or energy. That requires protein levels and ingredient quality that the commodity flake market rarely delivers.

Reefphyto Tropical Flake Deluxe is a 45g complete daily flake for tropical and community fish, formulated to a noticeably higher standard than generic tropical foods. Crude protein is 54%, which is high for a surface-floating tropical flake and reflects a composition led by fish and fish derivatives, with yeasts, vegetable protein extracts, molluscs and crustaceans, and a genuine inclusion of freeze-dried bloodworm throughout. That bloodworm fraction is what makes this a Deluxe formulation rather than a standard tropical flake. Feed one to three times daily, offering only what your fish consume within two minutes.

The results of a higher-protein diet with a live food fraction built in are visible over weeks. Cichlids show richer lateral banding. Tetras carry more depth of colour in their stripe and flank. Livebearers grow faster and display more actively. The freeze-dried bloodworm provides both a protein hit and a feeding stimulus that plain flakes cannot replicate.

Reefphyto packs and labels this flake ourselves from a trusted European supplier to the same quality standard we apply across the entire dry food range. If you keep both a reef and a tropical tank, or run breeding or grow-out tanks alongside your marine system, this is the flake we reach for. Darren is available at care@reefphyto.co.uk or on 01267 611533 for any feeding questions.

Give your tropical fish the same quality standard your reef already gets.

The tropical fishkeeping hobby has a quiet problem that rarely gets named directly. The most widely sold tropical flakes in the UK are produced to a commodity standard acceptable protein levels, passable vitamin inclusion, palatable enough that fish will eat them. They are not bad products. But they are not designed to push fish to the upper range of their health, colour, or condition. They are designed to sell at a price point.

The consequence for the fish is subtle but consistent. Colour that never quite reaches the depth it should. Breeding interest that comes and goes rather than being sustained. Growth that proceeds on a long timeline rather than an efficient one. Fish that are kept, not thriving.

Reefphyto Tropical Flake Deluxe is built to a different standard.

What Makes This a Deluxe Formulation

The distinction between a standard tropical flake and a Deluxe formulation comes down to two things: protein level and the inclusion of a genuine live food fraction.

At 54% crude protein, this flake sits significantly above the 40 to 45% range typical of standard tropical foods. The protein comes from a composition of fish and fish derivatives, yeasts, vegetable protein extracts, and molluscs and crustaceans — a broad, high-quality protein base that supports tissue development, immune function, and the sustained energy output that active tropical fish require.

The second element is the freeze-dried bloodworm inclusion. Bloodworm is Chironomus larvae, one of the most nutritionally dense and universally accepted live food sources in freshwater fishkeeping. Most tropical fish will feed on bloodworm with an intensity they rarely show for plain flake food. Including it in a surface-floating flake format means your fish get the feeding stimulus and nutritional benefit of a live food fraction without the management commitment of culturing or sourcing live or frozen bloodworm separately.

The full analytical profile is 54% crude protein, 9.4% fat, 2.5% fibre, and 9.5% ash, with a comprehensive vitamin pack including vitamins A, D3, E, C, B1, B2, B6, and B12.

Which Fish Is This For

Reefphyto Tropical Flake Deluxe is suited to the full range of tropical and community aquarium fish, with particular benefit for species where colour expression and breeding condition are priorities.

Cichlids of all types respond well to the high protein and bloodworm fraction. African cichlids, particularly Malawi and Tanganyikan species, display richer lateral banding and more consistent spawning behaviour on a protein-rich diet. South American cichlids, including angelfish and discus, accept it readily and benefit from the feeding stimulus the bloodworm provides.

Tetras, rasboras, and other small schooling fish show improved colour saturation, particularly species where the red, orange, or blue flank colouration is driven by carotenoid accumulation from a varied diet. The mollusc and crustacean fraction in this formulation contributes the crustacean-derived pigment precursors that support that process naturally.

Livebearers including guppies, platies, mollies, and swordtails thrive on the high protein content, which supports faster growth in juveniles and more consistent display colouration in mature males. For breeders running grow-out tanks, a 54% protein flake as the daily staple reduces the time to saleable size compared to standard tropical foods.

Bettas and other labyrinth fish accept the bloodworm fraction particularly well, as their natural diet in the wild is heavily insect and invertebrate based.

Surface Floating, Water-Clear Formula

Tropical Flake Deluxe is a surface-floating flake. This is deliberate for tropical fish, which are predominantly mid-water and surface feeders. Surface presentation allows fish to feed naturally at the water column level they prefer, reduces the competition between species in community tanks, and makes it easier to monitor feeding behaviour and adjust portion size accurately.

The formulation is designed to minimise water clouding. Flake foods that leach quickly into the water column raise ammonia and phosphate faster than their feeding value justifies. This flake holds its nutritional content until consumed, reducing waste and helping maintain the water clarity that tropical fish and their keeper both benefit from.

Part of the Reefphyto Dry Food Range

Reefphyto is primarily known for live marine nutrition, but the dry food range applies the same sourcing and quality standard to prepared foods across both marine and tropical fishkeeping. Every product in the range is packed and labelled by Reefphyto from a trusted European supplier and chosen specifically because it meets the nutritional threshold we'd be comfortable recommending to any keeper.

For reef keepers who also run a tropical tank or breeding system alongside their marine setup, the Tropical Flake Deluxe fits naturally into a Reefphyto order. For dedicated tropical keepers discovering the range through a recommendation, the quality standard is the same as everything else we put our name on.

Feeding Guide

Feed one to three times daily, offering only as much as your fish will consume within two minutes per feeding. Remove any uneaten food promptly. Store in a cool, dry place away from direct light and seal after each use to preserve the vitamin integrity and the bloodworm fraction.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is this suitable as the only food for tropical fish? Yes. It is formulated as a complete daily food, not a supplement. For most tropical fish it can be fed as the primary diet without requiring additional foods. Rotating with a vegetable-based flake or occasional live/frozen foods will give a more varied diet, which is always beneficial.

How does the bloodworm inclusion work in a flake format? The bloodworm is freeze-dried and incorporated into the flake during manufacturing. It distributes throughout the flake rather than sitting as a separate visible fraction. Fish benefit from both the nutritional content of the bloodworm and the natural feeding stimulus its scent and flavour provide.

Is this suitable for marine fish? It is formulated for tropical freshwater fish. For marine species we recommend the other Reefphyto flake products, Krill Flake, Brine Shrimp Flake, or Squid Flake which are specifically formulated for marine carnivores and omnivores.

Can it be used in an auto feeder? The surface-floating flake format is compatible with most auto feeders. It is not as auto-feeder optimised as pellet formats, but it will work in drum-style dispensers with a larger aperture.

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Reefphyto Tropical Flake Deluxe 45g