# Shoal & Stem — Scan test kits. Score tanks. > Aquarium journal app for tracking water parameters, tank health, and community interaction. (iPhone/iPad app by Shoal and Stem.) - Source: https://appshunter.io/ios/app/shoal-and-stem/id6767604177 (this page in markdown: same URL + `.md`) - Developer: [Shoal and Stem](https://appshunter.io/developer/1896491993) - Category: Lifestyle, Reference - Price: Free - Rating: 4.90/5 from 7 App Store ratings · 5 written reviews indexed - Age rating: 4+ - Requires: iOS 15.1 · 55 MB - Languages: American English - Released: 2026-05-19 - Data updated: 2026-08-14 - Monetization: free - User reviews in markdown: https://appshunter.io/ios/app/shoal-and-stem/id6767604177/reviews.md ## What is Shoal & Stem? Shoal & Stem is the all-in-one aquarium app — and it's 100% free. Track your water parameters, get advice from a personal AI, ID 1,500+ species, and journal every tank. No subscription. No paywall. Ever. Most fishkeeping apps lock the good stuff behind a monthly fee. We don't. TRACK EVERY PARAMETER Log pH, ammonia, nitrite, nitrate, GH, KH, temperature and more. Snap a photo of your water test and we'll read the values for you — then chart every reading over time so you catch trouble early. FINN — A PERSONAL AI THAT KNOWS YOUR TANK Ask anything, like "Can I add a betta here?", and get answers grounded in your tank's real data: your species, your parameters, your setup. Tell Finn what you did in plain English and it logs it for you. 1,500+ SPECIES AT YOUR FINGERTIPS Fish, shrimp, snails, and plants — each with care guides, temperament, water needs, and stocking compatibility, so you buy with confidence. JOURNAL EVERY TANK Document the journey with photos, notes, and milestones. Look back on how far your tank has come, from set-up day to fully grown in. A LIVE HEALTH SCORE Every tank gets a health score that updates as you log — a simple read on how it's doing, with clear next steps when something needs attention. UNLIMITED TANKS A single betta or a shelf full of aquascapes — track as many as you like. No limits, no tiers. BUILT AROUND COMMUNITY Discover real tanks from keepers everywhere, follow along, and share your own. Plus maintenance reminders, water-change scheduling, source-water profiles, and equipment tracking. Beautiful, powerful, and completely free. Download Shoal & Stem and give your tank the care it deserves. ## Key features - AI-powered test kit scanning - Tank health scoring - Water change tracking and reminders - Photo journaling - AI aquascaping companion - Stocking calculator - Community browsing and interaction ## Recent user reviews (5 of 5) All indexed reviews: https://appshunter.io/ios/app/shoal-and-stem/id6767604177/reviews.md ### 5/5 — Amazing idea and app! *2026-07-18* First, real person here, not AI! I never write reviews but love this app so much. When I got into the hobby yearrrs ago , I was looking for an app to track maintenance and stuff for my tanks. I’m weirdly obsessive bout keeping track of them. I could only ever find habit trackers and stocking calculators but never anything so specific and all encompassing to the hobby. Randomly came across an ad on Reddit about this app and it’s EXACTLY what I was looking for! App devs are super responsive and fast to incorporate new ideas or fix any bugs. As someone in the tech industry, I know how much time this can take and I genuinely appreciate it! Great job! 🙌🙌🙌 ### 5/5 — Updated review *2026-07-13* I don’t know why it won’t edit my last review to add to the many good things to say about this app, but after using it consistently for two months I still have nothing bad to say about it and am continually impressed with all the features it offers for free. One of the things I’ve started to really appreciate (again, besides it being 100% free) is how fast the team implements bug fixes and even feature suggestion. They listen!!! I promise!!! I have already submitted a number of tickets for both bugs and features, and not only have they implemented them within 48 hours every time, but they also send you a personal note in app when they’ve made the change. I genuinely want this app to succeed and to contour being supported, so please spread the word and use it. Their online website also has many more features like a forum and a marketplace, so I really hope it takes off. And devs, please don’t give up hope. The app is still young, so please don’t become discouraged that traffic is still low. I believe in you! ### 5/5 — Look no further than Shoal & Stem *2026-07-11* To be honest I downloaded 5 different apps to track my Aquarium Parameters. The final was Shoal & Stem. The previous 4 all had paywalls or had a poor user interface. Then I arrived at Shoal & Stem. Immediately I noticed a difference and started putting in my parameters. Then I met Finn, an AI compendium of knowledge. Provides more accurate and precise info than my LPS, suggestions and even emails my tanks week in review. If they ever charge a subscription I will definitely subscribe. I love this app. I would definitely give it a try. Currently all the services are free without annoying adds or paywalls. ### 5/5 — Great Tool *2026-06-20* Very helpful to track the life of your aquarium and its changes. Super handy to have all the information in one spot. Love how in depth it is when giving tank specs. My one suggestion is that the species that can be added to your tank is very limited. Especially if you are a seasoned keeper who has less usual stock. I wish there was a function to manually write in and add species that aren’t in the drop down menu. ### 5/5 — Seems Good So Far! *2026-06-05* I'm new to aquarium keeping and saw an ad for this app on Reddit. The only reason I decided to get it was because I noticed that there were no in-app purchases or subscriptions or anything like that, it's 100% free! I've been using it for a few days and honestly I really hope it takes off. The online marketplace is currently empty (I think because the app is so new), but I think it would be a really cool place for buyers and sellers of aquarium stuff to connect. It has a nice UI, places to put photos of your tank and creatures, and you can check out other people's tanks along with their parameters and stock so you can see how they are doing. I have high hopes for this app and I really hope it does well. ## Frequently asked questions about Shoal & Stem ### What is Shoal & Stem? Shoal & Stem is a freshwater aquarium journal app designed for hobbyists. It helps you track water parameters, monitor tank health, log maintenance, and connect with other aquascapers. The app features AI-powered scanning for test kits and an AI companion for advice. ### How does Shoal & Stem scan test kits? Shoal & Stem uses AI to scan your test kit parameter pads directly with your camera. This eliminates the need to manually input numbers for readings like pH, ammonia, nitrite, nitrate, GH/KH, phosphate, copper, and iron. ### Does Shoal & Stem have ads? No, Shoal & Stem is completely free and does not contain advertisements. The developers have stated they do not sell user data or share it with advertisers. ### What devices does Shoal & Stem support? Shoal & Stem is available for iPhone and iPod devices. It is rated for ages 4 and up. ### How often is Shoal & Stem updated? The latest version of Shoal & Stem is 1.0.9, and it was last updated on June 20, 2026. This indicates a relatively active development cycle for the application. ### Can I archive old aquascapes in Shoal & Stem? Yes, Shoal & Stem allows you to archive retired tanks. This preserves their full journal, photos, and history even after the scape has been broken down. ### What kind of advice can Finn, the AI companion, provide? Finn can answer a wide range of aquarium-related questions, including plant melting, fish compatibility, water chemistry, and aquascaping techniques. It can analyze your real water readings, including copper and iron, to provide specific recommendations. ### What is the user sentiment for Shoal & Stem? Based on the provided data, Shoal & Stem has a very high rating of 4.8 stars from 4 ratings, suggesting positive user sentiment among its current users. ## Version history (last 5 releases) ### 1.0.13 — 2026-08-09 Profiles, leveled up: add a cover photo and your links (Instagram, YouTube, TikTok), follow other keepers, and share your tanks in a tap. Plus: • Smarter species search — find anything by any of its names • Terrestrial plants (pothos, monstera) as natural filters • Dissolved oxygen tracking • New community-requested species • Faster photos + lots of polish So much of this came from your suggestions — thank you! ### 1.0.12 — 2026-07-12 We've been hard at work making tank care effortless: Smarter maintenance — One hub for water changes, dosing, filter cleaning, water tests, and feeding. Set reminders or just log what you did, with full history and notes for every task. Finn does more — Tell Finn what you did ("25% water change, added Prime") and he'll log it. Ask him to add a species we're missing and he'll check the catalog first. His advice is grounded in real care data for your fish. Feed and fast rhythm — Plan feeding and fasting days for your tank, and only get nudged on the days that matter. Richer history — Your notes now show in full, with per-task details and how each entry was logged. Fixes and polish — Fixed a keyboard glitch when logging water changes, tightened up reminders and schedules, and made species search faster and typo-tolerant. Thank you for the reviews and feedback. Keep it coming. ### 1.0.11 — 2026-07-07 New: a maintenance hub for every tank Stop guessing when you last did a water change. Set up water changes, fertilizer dosing, water tests, filter cleanings, feedings, and your own custom reminders — then see everything that's due at a glance from My Tanks. Also in this update: • Smoother journaling and tank editing — the keyboard no longer covers what you're typing • Fixed a crash some Android users ran into • Performance and stability improvements throughout Questions about your tank? Finn's always a tap away. Thanks for using Shoal & Stem! ### 1.0.10 — 2026-06-26 This update puts Finn — your aquarium sidekick — front and center, plus a lot you've asked for. Smarter Finn • Personalized tank-health summaries — Finn reads your own logs and tells you what's really going on, not a one-size-fits-all line. • Just tell Finn what you did — "did a 25% water change," "lost a tetra" — and he logs it for you, no forms. • New Updates inbox — announcements and notes from Finn, all in one place. • Rate Finn's answers with a thumbs up or down so they keep getting sharper. Stocking you control • Edit a fish's stocking history — fix a "died" that should've been "rehomed," or undo your most recent entry. • Tap any history entry to jump straight to that species. • Remove a logged water change right from the schedule. Discover and community • A new Discover feed — fresh tanks, journal highlights, and what the community is up to. • Public profiles, plus followers and following. • Can't find a species? Request it and we'll add it — and the catalogue just grew by a lot. Polish • Smoother camera and faster photo uploads. • Dozens of small refinements throughout. A lot of this came straight from your suggestions — keep them coming. ### 1.0.9 — 2026-06-20 You talk, Finn logs. Just tell Finn what you did, like "did a 30% water change," "nitrates are 20," or "added 5 amano shrimp," and he records it straight to your tank. He shows you the draft first; you tap to confirm. No forms, no menus. Also in this update: - Photos keep their orientation, so portrait shots no longer upload sideways. - A faster, clearer Finn, with thumbs up/down on his answers so he keeps improving. - Smoother sign-in and a tidier journal camera. --- *Data collected daily from the US App Store and indexed by [AppsHunter](https://appshunter.io/). User reviews are verbatim App Store reviews. Ratings, prices and chart positions refresh continuously; this snapshot is from 2026-08-14.*