What Joy Reef is
A portal to monitor, understand and automate a marine aquarium with data, notifications and history in one place.
Open beta
Try Joy Reef on your marine aquarium
Free to join: use the portal on your tank and spread the word. The most active members win Platinum for life.
Free during beta
No credit card needed
Reef Champions prize pool
What you can do today
- Create your tank and follow dashboard, history and parameters.
- Try value log, photos, sensors, plugs and available automations.
- Share your tank and invite other enthusiasts.
Who the beta is for
For enthusiasts with a real tank who want to manage it better and be part of the community building Joy Reef.
Why join now
Early beta members are founders: first access, more influence, and a shot at winning Platinum through the Reef Champions contest.
What you can do today
Joy Reef works in layers: start without hardware and add automation when you're ready.
Free, right now
Without hardware
No device needed. From the portal you can already:
- Create your tank and log parameters manually (temperature, pH, KH, salinity, etc.)
- Keep a photo journal of your tank over time
- Make your tank public and share it with the community
- Track history and charts of your entered values
- Get AI advice on your tank based on the parameters you enter
~35–80 €
With controller and sensors
Adding a DIY controller (NodeMCU + DS18B20 + float switches):
- Live temperature updated every minute, with automatic history
- ATO level monitoring via float switches
- Email alerts when the controller goes offline or temperature exceeds thresholds
- No manual entry: data arrives on its own
~12 €/plug
With smart plugs and automations
Adding pre-flashed Tasmota plugs:
- Automatic top-off (ATO): pump starts when the level drops
- Thermal safety: heater shuts off if temperature rises too high
- Manual remote control of any device connected to a plug
- Automations assist — they do not replace your direct oversight of the tank
Experimental
Still in development
Works, but expect updates and occasional rough edges:
- Live pH monitoring (dedicated ESP device + DFRobot probe)
- Custom multi-condition automations
- Advanced trend charts and parameter correlations
- Managing multiple tanks in parallel
How to get started
1
Sign up
Create an account in 2 minutes, no card required. Set up your tank and get full portal access right away.
Join the beta →
2
Read the guides
If you want the controller, follow: shopping list → assembly → firmware → configuration. Every step is documented.
Guide →
3
Join Reef Champions
Invite fellow enthusiasts with your personal link. The top 10 win free Platinum or Gold plans.
Reef Champions →First use
Start from concrete things
You do not need to configure everything immediately. The goal is to understand whether the portal helps your real tank management.
Create or check your first tank.
Explore the dashboard and history.
Try value log and photos.
Connect or evaluate a device if you have one ready.
Make your tank public and share it.
Invite other enthusiasts with your Reef Champions link.
Reef Champions
Top 10 win Platinum
The members who bring the most people to Joy Reef win a free Platinum subscription. 1st place: Platinum for life. Public leaderboard, updated in real time.
Beta questions
Is the beta free?
Yes. During the beta Joy Reef is free according to the rules shown in the portal.
Do I need a credit card?
No. You can sign up and try the beta without adding a card.
Can I use it on my real tank?
Yes, carefully. Keep human supervision and do not rely on unverified configurations for critical functions.
What happens after the beta?
Future plans will be communicated transparently with at least 60 days of notice before paid pricing is activated.
What is Reef Champions?
It's the beta contest: bring friends to Joy Reef and climb the leaderboard. The top 10 win free Platinum or Gold plans. Go to /reef-champions to see your points.
Join the Joy Reef community
Free for the entire beta. Bring friends, climb the leaderboard, win Platinum.