Comparison

Reef Pilot vs SunnyReef

Price, ratings, monetisation and update history for both apps, side by side — with what reviewers say about each.

Head to head
About

Reef Pilot

Control your modern saltwater aquarium lighting directly from your smartphone. Adjust intensity, color channels, and schedules for optimal coral and fish conditions.

Highlights
  • Bluetooth connection
  • Control StratonX aquarium light
  • Adjust lighting intensity
  • Manage color channels
  • Set time schedules
  • Intuitive smartphone control
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Reef Pilot App – our expertise for your reef. Control your Straton X conveniently from your smartphone. The new ATI Reef Pilot App for iOS guides you from initial setup to natural lighting for your aquarium. The right light from the start Based on your aquarium dimensions and the number of lights, the app recommends intensity and spectrum settings – for an easy start and lighting tailored to your corals. Keep track of light intensity at every depth Calculated PAR values show you the expected light intensity at different water depths, helping you choose suitable spots for your corals. The natural rhythm of your favourite reef Bring the lighting conditions of renowned reef locations into your aquarium, with a natural lunar cycle, changing moon phases and optional seasonal adjustments to day length. The moon simulation automatically synchronises with sunset in your aquarium.

About

SunnyReef

Features
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SunnyReef is a marine aquarium journal for iPhone, iPad and Mac. Log water tests, watch trends on charts, import ICP lab reports, plan your dosing and ask an AI assistant about your reef — all in one place, synced through iCloud. TESTS & PARAMETERS • 12 parameters: KH, calcium (Ca), magnesium (Mg), nitrate (NO₃), phosphate (PO₄), pH, salinity, temperature, plus trace elements: potassium (K), strontium (Sr), iodine and iron (Fe) • A clear status for every parameter against its target range — with custom ranges for your own tank • Historical charts and statistics: parameter trends over time ICP REPORTS • Import lab results from: Aquaforest Lab, ATI ICP, Triton, Fauna Marin, Oceamo • Values are read from the report automatically by an AI agent and compared with your previous tests (requires an AI key — see below) BRING YOUR HISTORY • CSV import from Excel, Numbers or Google Sheets — carry your existing measurement history with you DOSING • A new Dosing tab: set each supplement schedule once — a periodic table of elements shows every item at a glance • Bottle supply warnings 7 and 3 days ahead • Estimated level on the Dashboard, History chart and Dosing table — measured values and their statuses never change • A dose advisor computes real consumption from your tests and ICP and suggests a safe dose — always a suggestion, never auto-dosing • Label converter (ml/drops, L/gal, mg/µg per litre, dKH) and a salt batch profile LIVESTOCK & FEEDING • Track your fish, corals and invertebrates — species, purchase batches with prices and dates • Loss history with cause and note — undo an accidental loss and the animal returns to your living stock • Group feeding: one food, frequency and notes for a whole category; any species can have its own plan • The AI assistant knows your livestock — ask about stocking compatibility or have it set the feeding plan GALLERY, CALENDAR, REMINDERS • Reef photos with water parameters from the nearest test saved in the background • Calendar with daily notes • Reminders with notifications — water changes, tests, top-offs MULTIPLE AQUARIUMS • Separate tank profiles, including saved lighting settings SYNC & BACKUPS • iCloud sync between iPhone, iPad and Mac • Automatic backup to a folder of your choice (e.g. iCloud Drive), plus manual export and restore of a .sunnyreef file AI ASSISTANT — WITH YOUR OWN KEY SunnyReef connects to AI models using your own API key: • Claude (Anthropic) — paid key, highest quality analysis, understands photos • Gemini (Google) — free key, fully functional agent with photo analysis The assistant knows your results, answers questions about your parameters, analyzes coral photos and saves notes on your request. AI answers are informational and do not replace the knowledge and judgment of an experienced reef keeper. SUNNYREEF PREMIUM SUBSCRIPTION SunnyReef requires an active SunnyReef Premium subscription — one plan unlocks the full app: tests, charts, ICP imports, CSV import, dosing, livestock and feeding, gallery, calendar, reminders, multiple aquariums, iCloud sync, backups and the AI assistant interface. • 14-day free trial, then $3.99 per month or $24.99 per year (prices may vary by region) • The subscription renews automatically; billed through your Apple ID account; cancel anytime in your subscription settings • You can export a backup of your data at any time — even without an active subscription • AI API keys are independent from the subscription — you pay your AI provider for your own usage (Gemini offers a free tier) • Terms of Use: https://www.apple.com/legal/internet-services/itunes/dev/stdeula/ PRIVACY • Your data stays with you — on your device and in your private iCloud • The developer collects no data (App Privacy: "Data Not Collected") • API keys are stored securely in the system keychain • AI requests go directly to the provider you choose (Anthropic or Google) — details in the privacy policy Available in English, French, German, Japanese and Polish.

Screenshots

Reef Pilot4 screens
SunnyReef4 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is in-app purchases: Reef Pilot at none against SunnyReef's 2. Reef Pilot also leads on update cadence (daily vs every 3 days) and iOS requirement (15.0 vs 26.5). On price, ads and device support there is nothing between them.

Scored on Price · Rating · Positive reviews · Number of ratings · Update frequency · Ads · In-app purchases · Monetization · Best chart rank · Devices · Requires iOS

CostPrice · In-app purchases · Ads · Monetization

Both are free to download. SunnyReef sells 2 in-app purchases, starting at $3.99 per month. Reef Pilot asks for nothing beyond the download.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

Reef Pilot ships an update daily, SunnyReef every 3 days. The most recent releases landed on October 30, 2026 and October 31, 2026 respectively.

Scorecard3 real differences · 5 level
Reef Pilot versus SunnyReef: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterReef PilotSunnyReef
PriceFreeFree
Positive reviews0.0% of reviews—
Update frequencyDaily — betterEvery 3 days
AdsNoNo
In-app purchasesNo — betterYes
MonetizationFree—
DevicesiPhone, iPad, iPodiPhone, iPad, Mac
Requires iOS15.0 — better26.5
Further details — not scored
Size31 MB15 MB
Age rating4+4+
DeveloperATI Aquaristik GmbHLukasz Litwin

In-app purchases

None

Reef Pilot

No in-app purchases

2 purchases

SunnyReef

Subscriptions2
  • SunnyReef Premium Monthly14 Days trial$3.991 Month
  • SunnyReef Premium Annual14 Days trial$24.991 Year

Questions

Is Reef Pilot free?
Reef Pilot is free to download, with no in-app purchases.
Is SunnyReef free?
SunnyReef is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Do Reef Pilot or SunnyReef have ads?
Neither Reef Pilot nor SunnyReef shows ads.
Which is updated more often, Reef Pilot or SunnyReef?
Reef Pilot ships an update daily, and SunnyReef every 3 days. Most recently, Reef Pilot was updated on October 30, 2026 and SunnyReef on October 31, 2026.

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