New Life Spectrum Large 3 mm — Sinking Pellets for Tropical Fish 300 g

New Life Spectrum Large is a 3 to 3.5 mm sinking pellet made for larger tropical fish in freshwater and saltwater tanks.

A big fish given a 1 mm pellet loses half of it: it catches three, misses ten, and the rest ends up in the sand. New Life Spectrum Large solves that by size — 3 to 3.5 mm, a pellet the fish can see and take in one bite. It is the same core line as the Regular and the Medium, with the same formula; only the pellet size changes. Like every New Life Spectrum pellet except the Betta line, it sinks.

What New Life Spectrum publishes about its core line

According to the page published by New Life Spectrum, the Large belongs to the brand's core line, built around the Spectrum Nutrition Formula and intended for freshwater and saltwater tanks alike. The New Life Spectrum Large ingredient list opens with krill, squid, whole wheat flour and fish, followed by a range of marine algae, fish oil, spirulina, garlic and ginger.

The word "Naturox", which appears on the label and in this listing's former name, refers at New Life Spectrum to preservation with natural antioxidants (tocopherols) — not to a separate product line.

Guaranteed analysis

Pellet size and format

• Large: 3 to 3.5 mm (0.12 to 0.14 in)
• Size offered here: 300 g (10.5 oz) jar
• Other sizes in the line at the manufacturer: Regular 1 to 1.5 mm, Medium 2 to 2.5 mm, Giant 10 to 10.5 mm

How much should you feed? New Life Spectrum does not publish it

New Life Spectrum publishes no feeding directions — no frequency, no amount — on its product pages or on its Learn page. If you find a precise number elsewhere, it does not come from the manufacturer. Write to us with your tank volume and your species: we answer from what we see in the store.

The ReefSolution tip

My little trick with NLS pellets

To pick the right pellet size, I simply look at the fish's mouth. The pellet should be small enough that it can swallow it easily, without chewing on it or constantly spitting it back out. If a fish takes the pellet and spits it out several times, before assuming it doesn't like the food, simply try a smaller pellet size.

For meals, I also like to alternate between pellets and flakes. Pellets can be the main food, then you give flakes at some meals. It varies the way the fish feed a little, and the food stays available at different spots in the water column.

And yes, my little trick with Vita-Chem also works with sinking pellets. I simply put the portion of pellets in a small container, add a few drops of Vita-Chem, mix, and let it sit for about 1 to 3 minutes before feeding. If I want to prepare several meals in advance, I can also make small portions, put them in a container or a small bag, and freeze them. That way, my portions are ready and I only take out what I need for the meal. No need to let them soak for 20 minutes. The goal is simply to moisten them and let the Vita-Chem penetrate the pellet a little.

And above all, I only prepare small portions. Once a portion is thawed, it goes to the fish — I never refreeze it.

It's a simple little trick, but with marine fish, it's often exactly these little details that make the difference.

Frequently asked questions

What is the difference between New Life Spectrum Large and Medium?

Pellet size, nothing else. Large is 3 to 3.5 mm, Medium is 2 to 2.5 mm; the formula and the guaranteed analysis are identical.

Is Naturox a different product from regular New Life Spectrum?

No. At New Life Spectrum, Naturox refers to preservation with natural antioxidants (tocopherols), not to a separate line.

Do the Large pellets sink?

Yes. Every New Life Spectrum pellet has negative buoyancy, except the Betta line, which is semi-floating.

Why buy from ReefSolution

ReefSolution is an aquarium store in Laval, Quebec, and New Life Spectrum Large ships across Canada. To go with it: Medium 2 mm for the medium-sized fish in the same tank, Thera+A 3 mm for the garlic-enhanced version, Vita-Chem Marine for the soak described in the tip, and the Easy Feed pipette to place food exactly where you want it.