• Skip to main content
AlgaeBarn

AlgaeBarn

Marine Aquariums Made Easy!

  • Sign In
  • Cart
    • Shop See All
      • Ultimate Packs See All
      • Ultimate Refugium Starter
      • Clam Keeper Kits
      • Ultimate Ecopack
      • Mandarin Feeder Kit
      • Hair Algae Killer Kit
      • See All Ultimate Packs
      • Live Foods See All
      • Copepods
        • Ecopods
        • 5280 Pods
        • Galaxy Pods
        • Poseidon's Feast
        • Tisbe Pods
        • Tig Pods
      • Food Combos
        • Ecopods & Phyto
        • Galaxy Pods & Phyto
        • Poseidon's & Phyto
        • Tig Pods & Phyto
        • Tisbe Pods & Phyto
      • Phytoplankton
        • Oceanmagik
      • Brine Shrimp
        • Simple Brine
        • Nano Brine Shrimp
      • Most Popular Products See All
        • Galaxy Pods 5 Species Copepod Blend

          Galaxy Pods

          $66 – $139
          Shop Now
        • Ecopods 4 Pack Special

          $99
          Shop Now
        • Galaxy Pods & Phyto Combo

          $80
          Shop Now
        • 5280 Pods

          $45
          Shop Now
      • Macroalgae See All
      • Clean Macro Series
        • Clean Chaeto
        • Clean Sea Lettuce
        • Clean Green Ogo
        • Clean Mocha Ogo
        • Clean Mocha Spike Sphere
        • Pom Pom
        • Red Ogo
        • Red Spike Sphere
        • Red Spaghetti
        • Red Mangrove
      • Premium Rare Macro
        • Leafy Ogo
        • Blue Hypnea
        • Dragon's Tongue
        • Thick Ogo
      • Most Popular Products See All
        • Clean Chaeto

          $40 – $125
          Shop Now
        • Clean Sea Lettuce

          $30 – $95
          Shop Now
        • Red Ogo

          $30 – $80
          Shop Now
        • Red Mangrove

          $13
          Shop Now
      • Captive Bred Fish See All
      • Gobies
        • Green Mandarin
        • Court Jester Goby
        • Watchman Goby
        • White Spotted Goby
      • AngelFish
        • Biota Coral Beauty
        • Maculosus Angel
        • Majestic Angel
        • Swallowtail Angel
      • Tangs
        • Yellow Tang
        • Blue Tang
      • More Species
        • Grammas
        • FileFish
        • Blennies
        • Damsel
        • ClownFish
        • RabbitFish
      • Most Popular Products See All
        • Blue Mandarin

          BIOTA Green Mandarin

          $99
          Shop Now
        • ORA Neon Goby

          $35
          Shop Now
        • Captive Bred Yellow Tangs by BIOTA

          BIOTA Yellow Tang

          $239
          Notify Me When in Stock
        • ORA Premium Picasso

          $145 – $300
          Shop Now
      • Captive Bred Invertebrates See All
      • Clams
        • Ora Derasa Clam
        • Squamosa Clam
        • Ora Gigas Clam
        • Ora Maxima Clam
        • Ora Hippopus Clam
      • Shrimp
        • Ora Peppermint Shrimp
        • Harlequin Shrimp
      • Snails
        • Cerith Snails
        • Trochus Snail
        • Nassarius Snails
      • Urchins
        • Ora Tuxedo Urchin
        • Ora Pincushion Urchin
      • Most Popular Products See All
        • Animated gif of peppermint shrimp

          Peppermint Shrimp

          $49 – $119
          Shop Now
        • 10 Cerith Snails

          Cerith Snail

          $25 – $39
          Shop Now
        • pincushion urchin lytechinus variegatus reef safe and captive bred by ora for sale at algaebarn

          Pincushion Urchin

          $29 – $55
          Shop Now
        • Gold Maxima Clam Bed

          ORA Maxima Clam

          $80 – $150
          Shop Now
      • Corals See All
      • LPS Corals
        • Biota Pearl Bubble
        • ORA Pearl Bubble
        • ORA Marshall Island Goniopora
        • ORA Marshall Island Hammer
      • SPS Corals
        • ORA Pearlberry Acropora
        • ORA Micronesian Imperial Acropora
        • ORA Turquoise Acropora
        • ORA Micronesian Yellow Porites
      • Soft Corals
        • BIOTA White Polyp Toadstool
        • ORA Long Polyp Leather Coral
        • ORA Silver Xenia
        • ORA Pulsing Xenia
      • Frag Packs
      • Most Popular Products See All
        • Biota Pearl Bubble Coral

          $65
          Shop Now
        • ORA Pearlberry Acropora

          $290
          Notify Me When in Stock
        • BIOTA White Polyp Toadstool

          $65
          Shop Now
      • Additives & Bacteria See All
      • Live Cultures & Bacteria
        • Turbostart 900 Saltwater
        • Aquarium Cycle Kit
        • Coralline Algae
        • PNS Yellosno
        • PNS Probio™
      • Additives & Chemicals
        • Nitrocycle
        • Clarifier
        • Fritz A.C.C.R
        • Fritz RPM Salt
      • Most Popular Products See All
        • Mandarin Feeder Kit by Algaebarn

          Mandarin Feeder Kit

          $66
          Shop Now
        • MarinePure 10 Cubes

          2″ Cubes

          $5 – $99
          Shop Now
        • Coralline Algae in a Bottle, In Pink or Purple!

          Coralline Algae

          $22 – $44
          Shop Now
        • Ultimate Refugium Starter Pack

          $120 – $450
          Shop Now
      • Aquarium Supplies See All
      • Fuge Lighting
        • AI Fuge 16HD Light
        • Kessil A360X Fuge Light
        • Kessil H160
        • Kessil H80
        • Chaetomax
      • Biomedia
        • Marinepure Gems
        • Marinepure Rocks
        • Marinepure Plate
        • Marinepure Cubes
        • Marinepure Spheres
      • Foods
        • Dragon Roe
        • Simple Brine
        • Can'O Cyclops
        • Benereef™
        • Fresco Cyclops
      • Rock & Sand
        • Dry Rock
        • Clam Rocks
      • Most Popular Products See All
        • Mandarin Feeder Kit by Algaebarn

          Mandarin Feeder Kit

          $66
          Shop Now
        • MarinePure 10 Cubes

          2″ Cubes

          $5 – $99
          Shop Now
        • Coralline Algae in a Bottle, In Pink or Purple!

          Coralline Algae

          $22 – $44
          Shop Now
        • Ultimate Refugium Starter Pack

          $120 – $450
          Shop Now
      • CADE Aquariums See All
      • Reef Series
        • CADE REEF 500 S2
        • CADE REEF 600 S2
        • CADE REEF 900 S2
        • CADE REEF 1200 S2
        • CADE REEF 1500 S2
        • CADE REEF 1800 S2
        • CADE REEF 2100 S2
      • Frag Series
        • CADE Frag 600 S2/F
        • CADE Frag 900 S2/F
        • CADE Frag 1200 S2/F
        • CADE Frag 1500 S2/F
      • Peninsula Series
        • CADE Peninsula 1200 S2/P
        • CADE Peninsula 1500 S2/P
        • CADE Peninsula 1800 S2/P
      • Most Popular Products See All
        • CADE REEF 2100 S2

          $7,225
          Shop Now
        • CADE Peninsula 1500 S2/P

          $5,525
          Shop Now
        • CADE REEF 1200 S2

          $4,125
          Shop Now
        • CADE Frag 900 S2/F

          $3,275
          Shop Now
    • Contests Win Free Aquarium Supplies!
      No Purchase Necessary*
    • Top Deals Huge Savings!
    • AlgaeBarn Heroes Discount for Military,
      First Responders and more!
  • Blog
  • About
  • Contact
  • Shipping
You are here: Home / Premium Live Foods / Copepods / 5280 Pods
Rated 4.89 out of 5 based on 18 customer ratings
4.89 out of 18 ratings

5280 Pods

3 Species Mix Live Copepods

CLEAN YOUR TANK - FEED YOUR FISH & CORAL

  • LIVE SEED AND FEED
  • Shipping Days
    Mon, Tue, Wed
  • Free 2-3 Days
    Transport at $59+

$45

Each 16oz portion of 5280 Pods contains 5280+ LIVE Tigriopus, Tisbe, and Apocyclops Copepods ranging from nauplii to adult sizes. 5280 Pods is great for seeding new tanks and refugiums, boosting existing populations, or feeding finicky fish & inverts such as Mandarins, Seahorses, Anthias, Wrasses, SPS, LPS & NPS Corals, Clams, and most other filter-feeding inverts. Our pods are 100% viable to reproduce in marine aquaria. We recommend using with our high quality OceanMagik LIVE Phytoplankton Blend to establish and maintain the healthiest copepod populations.

Save Buying in Bulk:

Earn up to 45 PodPoints.


Quantity

— OR —

Save with Subscription:

Total:

$45

Saved

-

Benefits

Seed your aquarium

Copepods are an essential component to any Saltwater Aquarium Ecosystem.

Clean your tank

5280 Pods change size & shape many times during their first month of life - making them the perfect scavengers to clean the small, hard to reach areas of your tank.

Feed finicky fish

All of our jars contain a range of juvenile to adult copepods. The adults are consumed quickly, while the younger copepods reproduce & establish a sustainable copepod population in your saltwater tank!
  • Description
  • FAQ
  • Reviews (18)

Description

5280 Pods

Whether you are trying to seed a new aquarium or looking to boost Pod populations in your established system, 5280 Pods will get the job done. With 5280+ live copepods in every 16oz jar of 5280 Pods, you can rest assured that finicky feeders such as Mandarin Dragonets, Seahorses, Anthias, Corals, Clams, and other Filter-Feeding Invertebrates will always have a continuous supply of live, nutritious food. Our pods are 100% viable to reproduce within a marine environment. They grow and carry out their natural lifecycle in your aquarium. As some of the smallest mouths in a balanced ecosystem, a healthy population of Copepods is a critical, yet often overlooked part of any “Clean Up Crew”.

We recommend using with our high-quality OceanMagik LIVE Phytoplankton Blend to establish and maintain the healthiest copepod populations.

Tigriopus californicus

Packed with omega-3 fatty and amino acids, Tigriopus copepods make a nutritious meal for even the pickiest of fish. These Pods inhabit the water column and jerk around when they move, making them an easy target for your critters. Females will lay hundreds of eggs during their life cycle. They add to your “Clean Up Crew” by consuming detritus, invasive algae, and phytoplankton in your aquarium.

Tisbe biminiensis

These small and hardy tisbe copepods tend to inhabit the cracks and crevasses of live rock and macroalgae. Hiding helps them to maintain their population in marine aquaria. Their nocturnal nature makes them a sustainable food source in your tank and keeps your fish entertained and “on the hunt”. Tisbe copepods make for a highly nutritious treat for your fish, while adding to your “Clean Up Crew” by consuming detritus, phytoplankton and invasive algae in your aquarium. Think of these guys as the smallest mouths in your food chain.

Apocyclops panamensis

These hardy copepods are slightly larger than Tisbe pods and slightly smaller than Tigriopus copepods. This intermediate size makes them a healthy live snack for your finicky fish and coral. Apocyclops copepods are extremely nutritious with a very high amino acid and protein content. Apocyclops copepods contain high amounts of Astaxanthin which can enhance and brighten the colors of your fish and coral. These warm water copepods reproduce extremely quickly by laying eggs every 4-6 days, about twice the rate of Tisbe and Tigriopus! Apocyclops copepods feed on phytoplankton, fish waste, and other detritus in your tank, making them a critical part of any clean-up crew.

As juveniles, Apocyclops copepods are benthic, staying hidden in the rockwork, macroalgae, and glass in your aquarium. As Apocyclops copepods mature into adults, they lay eggs before becoming pelagic and making their way into the water column. Once in the water column, they provide a sustainable and nutritious live food source for your fish and corals.

PLEASE NOTE: 5280 Pods contains a range of juvenile to adult copepods. Juvenile copepods are difficult to see with the naked eye upon arrival, but are best for establishing sustainable copepod populations. This is because livestock do not consume the copepods immediately after you add them into your tank!

FAQ

Weight 1 lbs
Dimensions 3.5 × 3.5 × 5 in

18 reviews for 5280 Pods

  1. Rated 5 out of 5

    Dwain – February 23, 2017

    I purchased a couple bottles of the 5280 pods a little over a month ago and I am impressed. After pouring in the contents I really didnt see any pods for about a week. After 1 week of feeding Phyto to the tank I started seeing them all over the glass. A few weeks after that, I have so many I cant look at any glass surface without seeing them. If you need to seed a new tank, or feed a dragonette, these are the way to go.

  2. Rated 5 out of 5

    furam28 – April 21, 2017

    Absolutely the best pods you can get. Mine came in 2 days by Priority Mail. I opened the box. The bag is teeming with pods swimming around everywhere. Very few dead pods in the bag. Very healthy, large fat pods, many of them with egg sacs. I put half in the tank, and half in a 10g tank with some live rock, heater and HOB. Within a month, the 10g tank is full of pods. I can harvest every month and add to my DT.

  3. Rated 5 out of 5

    Asif Iqbal – October 27, 2017

    Got my BOGO combo of 5280 Mix pods with Phyto shipped to my home in Minnesota. Received via 2 days priority. Opened the box, both bags had pods active and bouncing around. Poured it into the tank this morning while the lights were out, with pumps off for 30 mins and filter socks off for 24 hours… Pods went in the tank. Thanks Algae Barn!

  4. Rated 5 out of 5

    mrfullard (verified owner) – November 28, 2017

    Absolutely healthy bags of pods received ready to feed or culture. Love that Swedish Fish bonus!

  5. Rated 5 out of 5

    ancochrane (verified owner) – February 7, 2018

    Everytime I have ordered them they have come on time and full of pods.

  6. Rated 3 out of 5

    David Dietz (verified owner) – April 26, 2018

    Ordered these to top off my refugium with new healthy pods. Bag was not teaming with lots of life, but there were a few swimmers. Thanks for keeping mandarin happy.

  7. Rated 5 out of 5

    hunvur – July 7, 2018

    Fantastic customer service, invest in these people!

  8. Rated 5 out of 5

    Adrian Martinez (verified owner) – August 23, 2018

    You won’t find higher quality pods anywhere else. Period. Pods arrived thriving and teaming with life. Looking forward to seeing my tank getting populated soon.

  9. Rated 5 out of 5

    Chris Gerardot – September 5, 2018

    I ordered PODS and photo combo and due to no fault of AlgaeBarn they didn’t arrive in time and where DOA thank you USPS. I contacted customer service and they were wonderful. Not only did I get a new shipment sent with lightening speed but I saw no DOA’s and my tank is happy happy happy. I will continue to buy my PODS right here and will spread the word to friends about products and customer service. Thank you so much for standing behind your word! Now to continue shopping!!!

  10. Rated 5 out of 5

    carytellis (verified owner) – November 9, 2018

    My fish love these pods. They are always active and there are so many. Love the new containers as well.

  11. Rated 5 out of 5

    Nicholas Dmitri Evano – November 21, 2018

    Pods were received on time, and could clearly see plenty of movement. Macroalgae and phyto were received in fine condition as well. Didn’t temp acclimate because I’m a dingus, but after watching them all swim around the fuge for a while, they didn’t seem to care too much. Awesome product and great customer service!

  12. Rated 5 out of 5

    Adam Cole (verified owner) – December 6, 2018

    Top notch product, and service.

  13. Rated 5 out of 5

    Jacob Juarez (verified owner) – December 13, 2018

    Lots of pods and all arrived on time in good health. I will buy again.

  14. Rated 5 out of 5

    Brett Edward Stout – March 22, 2019

    This is the third product I’ve used to get a healthy pod population in my tank. This is the one that actually succeeded. I gave each previous attempt a few months but never really saw much of anything, but within a few weeks of adding the 5280, my sand and rocks are all a flutter at night and the fish are actively nibbling on little guys all over. Couldn’t be happier.

  15. Rated 5 out of 5

    Eleftherios Karabelas – June 12, 2019

    Just discovered Algae Barn, these fellas are top notch. My pods just arrived very vivacious and well packaged. Going to do plenty of business here and support Algae Barn!

  16. Rated 5 out of 5

    Ryan Riske – July 10, 2020

    Best pods for starting a colony. I’ve purchased pods from a few other suppliers, but the ones from Algae barn are like a different class my tank was loaded with them after a month with daily feedings!

  17. Rated 5 out of 5

    Chris (verified owner) – April 3, 2021

    My shipmint was prompt, but when I looked at the jar it appeared everything was DOA, even under magnification. However, I poured the jar in anyway and hoped for the best. Sure enough the next day, under 20x magnification, I could see the little critters climbing all over the glass. Algae Barn got it right!

  18. Rated 5 out of 5

    matthew.k.wyatt (verified owner) – July 30, 2021

    I’ve tried competitors copepods but Algae Barn is 100% the best place to buy hands down!!!

Add a review Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Latest News from the AlgaeLab

Our team is hard at work studying how marine ecosystems behave so that you can build your tank with the perfect components!

Bulletproof Refugiums – Biodiversity

Welcome back to our discussion on building bulletproof refugiums! In the last few weeks, we have received a lot of questions here at AlgaeBarn about

Read More about Bulletproof Refugiums – Biodiversity

How Macroalgae Benefits Coral

Many hobbyists are constantly looking for ways to increase the health and vitality of their corals. There are many obvious ways to achieve better

Read More about How Macroalgae Benefits Coral

CADE Aquariums: Reef vs. Peninsula

Are you in the research and comparison stage of choosing a new system? Has your reef outgrown it's current home? If you’re just in the market to for a

Read More about CADE Aquariums: Reef vs. Peninsula

More Great Products

  • Eco Pack - Eco Pods and Phyto

    EcoPack Pod & Phyto Combo

    $70
    Shop Now
  • Apocalypse Pods & OceanMagik

    $45
    Shop Now
  • Tisbee Pods & OceanMagik

    $45
    Shop Now
  • Galaxy Pods 5 Species Copepod Blend

    Galaxy Pods

    $66 – $139
    Shop Now

Company

  • About Us
  • The AlgaeLab Blog
  • Our Team
  • FAQ

Get in Touch

  • Contact Us
  • AOA Claim Form
  • Press Inquiries
  • Call Us: 772-444-7637

Policies

  • Legendary AOA Guarantee
  • Terms & Conditions
  • Privacy Policy

Other

  • Store Locator
  • Wholesale & B2B inquired
  • Business Location

Subscribe to our Newsletter

Join our mission to build a more sustainable aquarium hobby, one tank at a time!

Copyright 2023, AlgaeBarn LLC - Live Copepods and Phytoplankton

0

Your Cart is Empty

adroll_adv_id = "RWFLKG57L5GR7KGYSOEUOK"; adroll_pix_id = "CH2QRUFHXZELLLCMHAB5GI"; adroll_version = "2.0"; adroll_current_page = "product_page"; adroll_currency = "USD"; adroll_language = "en_US"; adroll_products = [{"product_id":"3100","price":"45.00","category":"copepods"}];