(2 cm piece)
Cladophora Ball
Aegagropila linnaei – the famous natural, decorative, and purifying “green ball”
Aegagropila linnaei (formerly called Cladophora aegagropila) is a green alga that naturally forms a spherical shape in certain cold lakes, thanks to the rolling of the waves.
This “green ball” is soft to the touch, very attractive, and perfectly suited for low-tech aquariums.
It absorbs some dissolved nutrients (nitrates, phosphates…), serves as shelter for microorganisms, and offers a surface rich in biofilm for shrimp and fry. It is a simple, robust organism, almost impossible to fail with: exactly what we love in low-tech.
Why choose the Cladophora Ball?
- 🌿 It’s a true alga: so it perfectly competes with other algae, consuming the same nutrients as them.
- ✨ It’s beautiful: its ball shape, resembling a fine fur of a superb dark emerald green, makes it unique.
- 🔋 Low-tech friendly: low requirements, prefers very soft light or even partial shade, very tolerant of water parameters, requires no heating.
- 🦐 Unique shelter: fry, microfauna, and shrimp love its surface made of thousands of infinitely fine filaments.
- ⏳ Durable: an organism that can live more than 10 years!
- 👌 Easy maintenance: it grows extremely slowly, and just needs to be gently stirred in the aquarium water each month to remove impurities that have settled on it.
Planting and cultivation tips
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Substrate: completely indifferent, as it only rests on it (or is attached to a rock or root).
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Light: low to medium. Too strong light would cause it to be overrun by other algae.
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Water: quite indifferent, the Cladophora ball is very tolerant.
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Maintenance: remove impurities by shaking it gently each month, reshape it into a ball if it loses its form. Nothing more.
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Modifications: if desired, you can split the balls in two and reshape each half into a ball. But it grows extremely slowly and will remain small. You can also flatten it to spread it over a flat rock, for example. Some aquarists turn it into a mat by crushing it to create a soft green floor. It fuses back together over time.
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Temperature: do not exceed 24°C; it does not like heat, which causes it to disintegrate. Aim for 18 to 24°C.
Possible uses of the Cladophora Ball
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Low-tech aquarium: natural look of rolled algae at the bottom of streams, without any technology.
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Shrimp: they love to perch on these balls and nibble on all the impurities that sometimes stick to them.
- Nano tanks and aquascaping, for a very original but natural look.
FAQ - Cladophora Ball (Aegagropila linnaei)
Is it a harmful alga?
No. It is a specific, structured alga that does not colonize the aquarium. It stays grouped in a ball and does not become invasive.
Can it come apart and form filaments?
This happens if it is too brightly lit or poorly circulated. Simply roll it gently to tighten it back up. You can also provide a shaded corner in the aquarium.
It floats: is that normal?
Yes, sometimes after transport or handling. It eventually sinks within a few days. You can also press it lightly underwater to expel the air.
What is its growth rate?
Slow to moderate: once well established, extension by stolons becomes regular.
Can I keep it in a pond?
We prefer to limit it to the aquarium. It will not tolerate cold from autumn onwards, and heat or excessive light in summer would cause it to suffer.
Additional information
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Scientific name: Aegagropila linnaei
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Former name: Cladophora aegagropila
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Plant type: freshwater filamentous alga
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Origin: lakes of northern Europe and Japan.
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Light: low to moderate.
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Temperature: 10 to 28°C, ideally between 18 and 24°C.
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Size: records up to 8 cm, more commonly 1 to 4-5 cm
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Packaging: 1 piece of 2 to 3 cm (approximate weight: 25 g).
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Guarantee: 100% natural and plant-based, without chemical products or artificial support.
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Recommendation: please never release this alga into the wild. Even if it probably would not naturalize there, our ecosystems are very fragile.
