Triple Threat – Three Species Live Copepod Bundle

Triple Threat is a powerful three-bottle bundle featuring three distinct copepod species: Tisbe biminiensis, Tigriopus californicus, and Apocyclops panamensis. Each bottle contains a pure single-species culture, allowing you to introduce complete copepod biodiversity to your reef system while controlling species distribution across different tank zones.

Designed for reefers who want professional-level copepod diversity with the flexibility to seed different areas strategically, Triple Threat delivers three breeding champions in separate bottles for optimized establishment.

The Triple Threat Formula:

BOTTLE 1: TIGRIOPUS CALIFORNICUS

• Size: 1.0-1.5mm (large surface copepods)
• Fastest reproduction (doubles every 7-10 days)
• Lives on glass, rocks, overflow areas
• Highest omega-3 EPA/DHA content
• Temp range: 60-82°F
• Deploy to: Display tank surfaces, overflow boxes, upper rockwork

BOTTLE 2: TISBE BIMINIENSIS

• Size: 0.5-0.8mm (small benthic copepods)
• Fast reproduction (doubles every 8-12 days)
• Lives in sand bed, refugium surfaces
• High protein, detritus feeder
• Temp range: 72-82°F
• Deploy to: Refugium, sand bed, macroalgae areas

BOTTLE 3: APOCYCLOPS PANAMENSIS

• Size: 0.6-0.9mm (medium water column)
• Moderate-fast reproduction (doubles every 10-14 days)
• Free-swimming planktonic lifestyle
• Balanced nutrition, coral feeding
• Temp range: 76-84°F
• Deploy to: Display water column, refugium water space

Why Three Separate Bottles = Strategic Advantage:

✓ Targeted deployment - Place each species exactly where it thrives best ✓ Controlled establishment - Seed refugium vs. display differently based on goals ✓ Complete niche coverage - Surface + benthic + water column = total tank occupation ✓ Size diversity - Three sizes (0.5-1.5mm) feed all reef organisms ✓ Strategic flexibility - Heavy-seed refugium with Tisbe, display with Tigriopus ✓ Temperature insurance - 55-84°F combined range survives any conditions

Key Benefits:

✓ Three bottles = flexibility to optimize species placement ✓ All three fastest-breeding species (rapid establishment) ✓ Complete tank biodiversity in one purchase ✓ 3-4x more copepods than single-species approaches ✓ Pure cultures prevent species competition during establishment ✓ Strategic seeding = better long-term populations ✓ Extreme temperature tolerance (55-84°F) ✓ Professional-grade diversity at bundle pricing

Perfect For:

• Reefers wanting complete copepod biodiversity
• Strategic seeding (heavy refugium, moderate display)
• Systems with distinct zones (refugium, sump, display)
• Mandarin dragonets requiring diverse copepod sizes
• Coral farms needing full-spectrum zooplankton
• Large reef systems (100+ gallons) requiring complete coverage
• Professional aquarists who understand niche optimization
• Recovery from crashes needing rapid ecosystem rebuild

Strategic Deployment Guide:

For Standard Reef Tanks (50-100 gallons):

Bottle 1 - Tigriopus californicus:

• Pour 75% into display tank (upper surfaces, overflow)
• Pour 25% into refugium (if available)
• Target: Display tank surfaces, visible areas

Bottle 2 - Tisbe biminiensis:

• Pour 90% into refugium (macroalgae, surfaces)
• Pour 10% into display sand bed
• Target: Maximum refugium production

Bottle 3 - Apocyclops panamensis:

• Pour 50% into display tank water column
• Pour 50% into refugium water space
• Target: Even distribution for coral feeding

For Mandarin-Focused Systems:

Bottle 1 - Tigriopus: 100% display tank (mandarin primary food) Bottle 2 - Tisbe: 100% refugium (continuous production) Bottle 3 - Apocyclops: 75% display, 25% refugium (supplemental feeding)

For Coral Propagation Systems:

Bottle 1 - Tigriopus: 50% display, 50% refugium (balanced) Bottle 2 - Tisbe: 100% refugium (maximizes production) Bottle 3 - Apocyclops: 75% display (coral feeding priority)

For Large Systems (200+ gallons):

Purchase multiple bundles and distribute across system zones:

• Heavy-seed refugium with Tisbe
• Moderate-seed display with Tigriopus and Apocyclops
• Target specific areas needing copepod density

How Much Triple Threat Covers:

Each bundle contains 3 bottles (typically 16oz each = 48oz total):

• 50-100 gallons: 1 bundle (complete coverage)
• 100-200 gallons: 2 bundles (optimal density)
• 200-300 gallons: 3 bundles (full colonization)

Add extra bundles for:

• Multiple mandarin dragonets
• Heavy copepod predation (wrasses, anthias)
• Faster establishment timelines

Quick Start Protocol:

1. Evening introduction (lights off reduces fish predation)
2. Strategic deployment (see deployment guide above)
3. Turn off return pump 1-2 hours per bottle introduction
4. Stagger introduction (optional: introduce one bottle per day over 3 days)
5. Feed phytoplankton 3-4x weekly starting immediately
6. Wait 6-8 weeks for all three species to establish mature populations
7. Reseed strategically every 4-6 months (can purchase individual species or new bundle)

Population Timeline:

• Week 1-2: Species settle into targeted zones
• Week 3-4: Tigriopus visible on display glass (first to show)
• Week 5-6: All three species reproducing, populations expanding
• Week 7-8: Mature three-species ecosystem established
• Month 3+: Self-sustaining with regular phytoplankton feeding

Expected Total Production:

From one Triple Threat bundle (3 bottles) at 8 weeks:

• 50-100 gallon system: 60,000-100,000 total copepods
• 100-200 gallon system: 40,000-80,000 copepods (consider 2 bundles)

Individual species contribution:

• Tigriopus: ~40% (fast breeding, large biomass)
• Tisbe: ~45% (fast breeding, refugium multiplication)
• Apocyclops: ~15% (moderate breeding, steady presence)

Feeding Requirements:

Phytoplankton 3-4x weekly (all three species need feeding):

• 50-100 gal: 20-30mL Nannochloropsis per dose
• 100-200 gal: 40-60mL per dose
• 200+ gal: 80-100mL per dose

Optimal blend: 70% Nannochloropsis + 30% Tetraselmis

All three species feed on phytoplankton. Consistent feeding = explosive reproduction across all species.

Refugium Optimization:

Triple Threat maximizes refugium efficiency:

Minimum refugium: 15-20 gallons

Setup for three species:

• Sand bed 2-3 inches (Tisbe breeding habitat)
• Chaeto/macroalgae (Tisbe surface area + Tigriopus secondary)
• Open water column (Apocyclops reproduction space)
• Moderate flow (supports all three species)
• No filter socks (allows copepod migration to display)
• Reverse lighting or 24hr

Expected refugium production:

• 20-gal refugium: 50,000-75,000 copepods (three species combined)
• 30-gal refugium: 90,000-120,000 copepods

Complete Tank Coverage:

Where Each Species Thrives:

Display Tank:

• Upper surfaces/glass: Tigriopus dominates (bright orange, crawling)
• Water column: Apocyclops swimming throughout
• Sand bed surface: Some Tisbe presence

Refugium:

• Macroalgae surfaces: Tisbe dominates (dense populations)
• Water space: Apocyclops reproducing
• Refugium walls: Tigriopus on surfaces

Sump/Equipment Area:

• Pump chambers: Tigriopus on walls
• Baffles and surfaces: Tisbe colonies
• Water volume: Apocyclops distributed

Result: Every tank zone occupied. Maximum copepod capacity.

Temperature Resilience:

Combined 55-84°F range from three species:

• 60-70°F: Tigriopus thrives, others maintain
• 72-78°F: All three explosive reproduction
• 78-84°F: Tisbe and Apocyclops thrive, Tigriopus maintains

Three-species insurance against temperature fluctuations, equipment failures, seasonal changes.

Mandarin Dragonet Success:

Triple Threat provides complete mandarin nutrition:

Tigriopus (Bottle 1): Primary mandarin food

• Large size (1.5mm) = substantial meals
• Surface-dwelling = easy mandarin hunting
• Highest omega-3 = superior health

Tisbe (Bottle 2): Refugium production + sand bed feeding

• Refugium multiplication = continuous supply
• Sand bed grazing (mandarins hunt here at night)

Apocyclops (Bottle 3): Supplemental water column feeding

• Mid-water opportunistic feeding
• Coral nutrition (benefits overall system)

For single mandarin: 75+ gallons + 15-gal refugium + 1 Triple Threat bundle For pair of mandarins: 100+ gallons + 20-gal refugium + 2 Triple Threat bundles

Success rate: 80-90% with proper maintenance

Compatible Fish & Organisms:

Excellent for:

• Mandarin dragonets (complete nutrition from all three)
• Anthias (Tigriopus + Apocyclops active hunters)
• Wrasses (all three species hunted)
• Gobies (especially Tisbe specialists)
• Dartfish/firefish (Apocyclops water column)
• Blennies (graze Tisbe and Tigriopus)
• Seahorses (Tigriopus essential)
• Clownfish (moderate predation)

Perfect for:

• All SPS corals (three size options)
• All LPS corals (complete feeding)
• Soft corals and NPS corals
• Tridacna clams
• Filter-feeding invertebrates

Bundle Value:

Triple Threat Bundle vs. Individual Bottles:

• Bundle pricing = savings vs. buying three bottles separately
• Strategic deployment guide included
• Complete biodiversity in single purchase
• Professional-grade system in one package

vs. Pre-Mixed Blends (like Power Blend):

• Triple Threat: Separate bottles = strategic placement control
• Pre-Mixed: Single bottle = general distribution only
• Choose Triple Threat for: Large systems, strategic seeding, professional control
• Choose Pre-Mixed for: Simplicity, smaller tanks, standard deployment

Coral Propagation Applications:

Professional coral farms use separated species for strategic deployment:

Tigriopus: Upper coral rack feeding (surface copepods crawl over colonies) Tisbe: Refugium production (continuous copepod supply to system) Apocyclops: Water column coral feeding (swimming past polyps triggers response)

Three bottles allow targeted seeding for maximum coral nutrition and growth.

Troubleshooting:

"One species seems dominant, where are others?"

• Normal—species ratios shift based on temperature, flow, predation
• Tigriopus most visible (large, orange, on glass)
• Check refugium at night for Tisbe (flashlight)
• Shine light in water column at night for Apocyclops
• All three remain present even if one appears dominant

"Should I introduce all three bottles same day?"

• Same day: Fastest establishment, most convenient
• Staggered (1 per day over 3 days): Less fish predation pressure, more controlled
• Either works—choose based on preference

"Can I buy individual species bottles later?"

• Yes. Replenish specific species as needed
• Heavy predation on Tigriopus? Buy individual Tigriopus bottle
• Refugium Tisbe crashed? Buy individual Tisbe bottle
• Flexibility is Triple Threat advantage

Specifications:

Bundle Contains:

• 1 bottle Tigriopus californicus (16oz typically)
• 1 bottle Tisbe biminiensis (16oz typically)
• 1 bottle Apocyclops panamensis (16oz typically)
• Total: 48oz live copepod cultures
• Each bottle ships with live phytoplankton
• Strategic deployment guide included

Shelf Life: 7-10 days refrigerated per bottle Guaranteed: All three species arrive live or immediate replacement Licensed: Arizona aquaculture facility AQ#91

Storage: Refrigerate all bottles at 38-45°F. Do not freeze. Use within 7-10 days of receipt.