PRODIBIO

What PRODIBIO does

PRODIBIO is a France-based manufacturer of nature-based, bacteria-focused water care products for freshwater and saltwater aquariums, founded in 1998 in Lyon and currently headquartered in Verneuil d'Avre et d'Iton under the RED SEA EUROPE legal entity. Its core product portfolio centers on dormant live bacterial and prebiotic formulations packaged in airtight single-dose ampoules with a stated five-year shelf life, spanning BioDigest (multi-strain Nitrosomonas, Nitrobacter, Bacillus consortium for biological filtration), Stop Ammo (plant-extract ammonia binder), Start Up Kit (combination starter), Bioptim (prebiotic nutrient blend for freshwater), Reef Booster (omega-3 coral nutrition for saltwater), and Chloral Reset (thiosulfate water conditioner). The R&D backbone rests on a team with 25+ years of experience in organic chemistry, natural products, and microbiology, originally led by founder Nicolas Tiliacos (PhD in Organic Chemistry).

The business model is a one-time-sale B2C/B2B product business: ampoules are priced per unit with package sizes of 6, 12, and 30 ampoules, and revenue is generated through unit sales rather than subscriptions. Distribution is primarily indirect via a network of regional distributors spanning Europe, Asia, Africa, North America, South America, and Oceania, supplemented since 2020 by direct distribution in France and a 2026 partnership with Red Sea (a global reef products leader) that significantly extends worldwide reach. The customer base is highly fragmented — aquarium hobbyists served through 5,000+ retail points worldwide, with a smaller enterprise tail including public aquariums (e.g., COEX Aquarium Seoul, Mare Nostrum Montpellier) and fish farms.

The company is small (8 employees), privately held by Nicolas Tiliacos since a 2006 acquisition, and operates without disclosed funding rounds, patents, or revenue figures. All products are manufactured in France with recyclable packaging, and the firm holds ISO 26000 (AFNOR, 2010) certification focused on sustainable development.

Name

PRODIBIO

Legal name

RED SEA EUROPE

Website

https://prodibio.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

1998

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

PRODIBIO is a France-based manufacturer of nature-based, bacteria-focused aquarium water care products (BioDigest, Stop Ammo, Reef Booster, Bioptim, Chloral Reset) sold in single-dose ampoules to aquarium hobbyists globally through distributors and a 2026 Red Sea partnership.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Aquarium Water Care Products

akta.pro primary industry

Aquarium & Fish Supplies Retail (CRALAHAI)

akta.pro secondary industry

Water Testing & Chemical Balancing (HSAIALAB)

Keywords

• Aquarium water care
• Bacterial supplements
• Biological filtration
• Reef nutrition products
• Aquarium water conditioner

Headquarters

HQ city

Verneuil d'Avre et d'Iton

HQ country

France

HQ region

Europe

Offices2 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Hardware or Manufacturing

Cost components

Operations, Supply Chain, Personnel, Technology or R&D, Marketing or Sales

Revenue model

1. Aquarium Water Care Products: Prodibio generates revenue through the sale of natural bacteria-based water treatment products for freshwater and saltwater aquariums. Products are sold in various package sizes (6, 12, 30 ampoule packs) through distributors globally.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

PRODIBIO designs, develops, manufactures, and markets nature-based water care products for freshwater and saltwater aquariums. The portfolio centers on dormant live bacterial strains and natural additives packaged in single-dose airtight ampoules, covering aquarium startup (biological filtration, ammonia control), ongoing maintenance (prebiotic nutrients, coral nutrition), and water conditioning (chlorine/chloramine removal). All products are manufactured in France with fully recyclable packaging.

Product overview

PRODIBIO is a nature-based water care company with over 25 years of experience designing products for freshwater and saltwater aquariums. The product portfolio centers on dormant live bacteria packaged in airtight ampoules. The startup product line includes BioDigest (multi-strain bacteria for biological filtration), Stop Ammo (natural ammonia blocker), and Start Up Kit (combines both). The maintenance line includes Bioptim (prebiotic nutrients for freshwater), Reef Booster (coral nutrition for saltwater), and Chloral Reset (water conditioner). All products are manufactured in France with fully recyclable packaging and work together to support aquarium ecosystems from initial setup through long-term maintenance.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• BioDigest Multi-strain live bacterial consortium (Nitrosomonas, Nitrobacter, Bacillus) packaged in 1 ml airtight ampoules that jump-starts and sustains biological filtration in freshwater and saltwater aquariums, breaking down organic waste and reducing nitrates and phosphates.
• Stop Ammo 100% natural ammonia-binding ampoule formulated from plant extracts that traps and neutralizes ammonia, binding up to 70% of ammonium and releasing it incrementally to protect fish during ammonia spikes.
• Start Up Kit Combined starter kit that pairs BioDigest live bacteria with Stop Ammo ammonia protection to jump-start the nitrogen cycle and establish stable biological filtration in new aquariums; available in NANO 2, NANO 4, 6, 12, and 30 ampoule sizes.
• Reef Booster Saltwater-only nutritional supplement for corals, live rock, and invertebrates, formulated with high concentrations of polyunsaturated omega-3 fatty acids and amino acids to support Zooxanthellae algae and overall coral health.
• Bioptim Freshwater prebiotic blend of amino acids, enzymes, natural vitamins, and trace elements (sulfur, iron, cobalt, calcium, magnesium, manganese, zinc, molybdenum, potassium) that stimulates beneficial bacteria and optimizes biological filtration.
• Chloral Reset Highly concentrated water conditioner using thiosulfate to neutralize chlorine and chloramines in tap water, with biocolloids that protect fish mucus and reduce stress in both freshwater and saltwater aquariums.

Quantifiable outcome

• Stop Ammo binds up to 70% of ammonium in water, releasing it incrementally to reduce stress
• +3 more outcomes

Named customers2 records

Segments2 records

Ideal customer profiles2 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature5 records

Partnerships

Two partnerships are on record, tiered flagship and core.

• Red SeaflagshipStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2026In 2026, Prodibio partnered with Red Sea, a global leader in reef products, to expand the worldwide availability of its bacteria-based aquarium solutions. This collaboration strengthens Prodibio's mission to provide natural, science-driven reef care to a broader community of aquarists. Red Sea is listed as the parent company (RED SEA EUROPE) for Prodibio's website and operations.
• Australian Market PartnerscoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ Distributor · 1 January 2019Prodibio entered the Australian market in 2019, expanding its presence to five continents. The company works with distribution partners in Australia for regional market access.

Scale indicators4 records

Recent moves9 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• Two Little Fishies: Two Little Fishies is a US-based maker of aquarium supplements, water conditioners, and biological filtration aids for reef and marine systems. It is comparable to Prodibio in its focus on small-volume, high-efficacy specialty additives distributed through hobbyist retailers.
• Tropic Marin: Tropic Marin is a German manufacturer of reef and saltwater aquarium care products including bacterial formulations and water conditioners. It competes directly with Prodibio's premium marine supplement line targeting reef hobbyists globally.
• Seachem: Seachem is a US-based manufacturer of aquarium water care products including bacterial supplements, water conditioners, and reef additives. It directly overlaps Prodibio's BioDigest-style bacterial consortiums and broad water-treatment portfolio for freshwater and saltwater hobbyists.
• Brightwell Aquatics: Brightwell Aquatics makes bacterial supplements, water conditioners, and reef/coral nutrition products mirroring Prodibio's BioDigest and Reef Booster lines. Japanese-owned with strong US distribution, it competes head-to-head with Prodibio in the reef-keeping segment.
• Kent Marine: Kent Marine produces reef and saltwater water care products including supplements, conditioners, and bacterial products targeting serious marine hobbyists. It targets the same customer as Prodibio's Reef Booster and BioDigest product lines.
• Aquaforest: Aquaforest is a Polish manufacturer of reef supplements, bacterial products, and water care solutions closely paralleling Prodibio's BioDigest and Reef Booster products. Its emphasis on specialty reef hobbyists makes it a direct geographic and product competitor in European distribution.
• DrTim's Aquatics: DrTim's Aquatics is a US-based manufacturer specializing in bacterial water treatments (including One & Only Live Nitrifying Bacteria) for aquarium cycling — the exact niche Prodibio's BioDigest targets. Direct product overlap and shared customer base among reef/freshwater hobbyists.

Broad incumbents

• Sera: Sera is a German manufacturer of aquatics products spanning water conditioners, bacterial additives, foods, and treatments. Its broad product portfolio and EU distribution overlap with Prodibio's water care categories, though it serves a more general hobbyist base rather than reef specialists.
• Red Sea: Red Sea is a global leader in reef aquariums and Prodibio's strategic partner and parent entity (RED SEA EUROPE). It overlaps Prodibio's Reef Booster in coral nutrition while offering a broader reef-system portfolio (lighting, filtration, supplements) that Prodibio benefits from distribution-wise.
• API (Mars Fishcare): API, owned by Mars Fishcare, is one of the largest aquarium water care brands globally with broad distribution in mass-market retailers. It competes with Prodibio via water conditioners and bacterial supplements, though its portfolio spans everything from fish food to test kits.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• YouTubeyoutube.com/@ProdibioOfficial
• Facebookfacebook.com/Prodibio
• Instagraminstagram.com/prodibio
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/prodibio

Compliance1 record

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles1 record

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about PRODIBIO