Saltwater
Live Copepods & Phytoplankton Combo Pack — Tisbe & Tigriopus (16 oz)
Reviews
4.6/ 5
Brand AlgaeBarn
- 5 stars 6
- 4 stars 1
- 3 stars 1
- 2 stars 0
- 1 star 0
Product description
What’s included
- A jar containing 3,000+ cultured Tigriopus and Tisbe copepods spanning sizes from nauplii through adults.
- A 4-strain live phytoplankton blend (Nano, Iso, Tet, Thal) used to feed copepods and many filter-feeding organisms.
- Product labeling and handling guidance for introducing the cultures to your aquarium or a grow-out container.
Organisms and materials
The copepods are an aquacultured mix of Tigriopus and Tisbe provided as a live, reproducing population. Individuals range from microscopic nauplii to visible adults; expect mixed sizes on arrival. The phytoplankton is a hand-selected, live blend of four microalgae strains formulated to nourish copepod cultures, corals, clams and other suspension feeders. As a live suspension, the phytoplankton will actively uptake nitrates and phosphates while serving as a direct food source.
How to use
- Seeding: Add copepod culture directly to a new tank or refugium to establish a diverse microfauna base for natural food chains. Mixed life stages support rapid population growth.
- Feeding/maintenance: Dose the phytoplankton to feed copepods, corals, clams and other filter feeders; repeated dosing can help reduce dissolved nutrients and stabilize pH.
- Culturing: Transfer portions of the copepod jar into a grow-out container with supplemental phytoplankton to expand numbers before introducing them to the display tank. Typical applications include supporting mandarins, seahorses, small wrasses, anthias, blennies, and various LPS, SPS and NPS corals.
Performance notes
The copepod mix is intended to reproduce in marine aquaria and is useful both for establishing populations from scratch and for topping up existing cultures. The phytoplankton blend is the same feed used to maintain the copepod cultures and is selected to encourage clear water and healthier microfauna. A live-arrival guarantee accompanies the product, and the manufacturer highlights sustainability and aquacultured sourcing.
Pros
- Provides a large, mixed-age copepod population ready to seed tanks
- Four-strain live phytoplankton supports copepods and filter feeders
- Can reduce nitrates/phosphates and boost water clarity with continued use
Cons
- Copepod counts and species ratios can vary between shipments
- Tiny life stages may be hard to spot on arrival
- Occasional shipping damage to containers has been reported
VerdictThis combo supplies a large, mixed-age copepod population and a nutrient-rich phytoplankton blend intended to jump-start or supplement reef tank food webs. The copepods are aquacultured and meant to reproduce in captivity, making them useful for seeding new systems, refugiums, or boosting existing populations. The phytoplankton contains four strains chosen to feed copepods and many filter feeders
Reviews
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Mark 5/5
Outstanding support turned a problem into a win
I rarely write reviews, but the team here handled an order issue so well that I’ll be a repeat customer. After a shipment problem they responded quickly, communicated clearly, and resolved everything above expectations. They treated me like a valued client rather than just an order number, turning what could’ve been a negative into a very positive experience.
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Brian munoz 5/5
Container damaged in transit, slow response at first
One pod container had its lid come loose in transit and some water leaked out. I messaged multiple times with no reply initially and was worried. Update: support eventually contacted me and sent a replacement priority overnight.
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Jorge 5/5
All specimens arrived alive
Everything showed up as advertised and on schedule. I was impressed by the number of copepods in the jar — they were alive and active. Solid product.
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Chris 3/5
Good culture but costly for the count
Quality seemed comparable to other live kits I’ve used, but the per-unit count felt similar while costing more. If quantity per dollar matters, consider other options.
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NotHappyGrower 5/5
Well packaged with fun extras
Packaging was secure and the product arrived safely. The included sticker and a free sour straw were a small touch that made me smile.
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kathy franks 5/5
Rich phytoplankton and booming copepod numbers
The phytoplankton is a deep green and very concentrated — enough to feed a gallon jug culture. The copepod population in the jar was huge and lively. Plenty to start a culture.
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Javier Castro 5/5
Reliable repeat purchase — lively jars
This is my second order and I’m pleased again. Jars are clearly labeled and packed well. Copepods were very active and looked healthy. Thank you.
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scott 4/5
Mixed results — lots of Tisbe, fewer Tigriopus
All arrived alive and prior orders were fine. This time there were only a couple dozen tiger pods I could find; they’re large and easy to see, but fewer than I expected. Lots of Tisbe though. After a few days in a grow-out container more became noticeable.
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