Comparison

ReefDiary vs Tanksmith

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

Head to head
About

ReefDiary

Track saltwater aquarium parameters, calculate precise dosing, and visualize trends to maintain a stable reef environment. This app offers offline functionality and local data storage for reef keepers.

Highlights
  • Log aquarium parameters
  • Dosing calculator
  • Parameter trend charts
  • Exportable reports
  • Multiple tank support
  • Offline functionality
Features
Read full description

Log saltwater aquarium parameters, spot stability drift, calculate dosing amounts, and keep reef care decisions grounded in your own data. KEY FEATURES: - Log Ca, Alk, Mg, pH, Salinity, Temp, NO3, PO4 in seconds - 2-part dosing calculator (BRS, ESV, Tropic Marin, custom) - Color-coded parameter cards show instant health status - Trend charts reveal drift, recovery, and repeat patterns - Exportable reports for second opinions, store visits, or support threads - Multiple tank support with separate histories and routines BUILT FOR REEF KEEPERS: - No account required, no cloud sync; reef data stays local - Works offline - practical for fish rooms and maintenance benches - Dense, scannable interface designed for daily reef checks PRO FEATURES (monthly, yearly, or lifetime): - Unlimited tanks and full long-range parameter history - Advanced dosing products and custom formulas - CSV exports and shareable reef detail images - Custom testing cadence and dosing follow-through Free to download. Pro unlocks the long view: full history, reports, formulas, routines, and unlimited reef systems. LEGAL: - Terms of Use (EULA): https://www.apple.com/legal/internet-services/itunes/dev/stdeula/ - Privacy Policy: https://peachuinc.github.io/legal/reefdiary/

About

Tanksmith

This app helps reef aquarium owners meticulously track water parameters, equipment maintenance, and livestock with photos. It offers detailed logging for water chemistry, test kits, and salt batches, with an optional pro version for advanced features like multi-tank management and PDF reporting.

Highlights
  • Offline reef tank logbook
  • Water parameter tracking
  • Equipment service logging
  • Livestock and coral photo management
  • Test kit and salt batch recording
  • Multi-tank management (Pro)
  • Tank Report PDF generation (Pro)
Features
Read full description

Tanksmith is an offline logbook for reef aquariums. Keep water readings, equipment service, livestock and coral photos together on your device. No account, app cloud sync, subscription or ads. Optional usage analytics stay off until you choose to enable them. FREE FEATURES Log alkalinity, calcium, magnesium, nitrate, phosphate, salinity, temperature, pH, ORP, ammonia and nitrite. See readings and trends over time; Tanksmith does not prescribe universal target ranges. Record test-kit brands, lot numbers and label-based expiry dates, plus the salt batch you are using. Set equipment service intervals and keep a livestock list with photos, sources and placement notes. The free tier includes one tank, 40 parameter readings and three livestock entries per tank. TANKSMITH PRO — ONE-TIME PURCHASE Manage multiple tanks, with unlimited readings and livestock. Add dated coral photos, compare two images side by side, and record frag lineage. Create a Tank Report PDF with recent trends, livestock and equipment-service status. Dosing analysis shows the measured net daily trend in alkalinity and calcium. After enough consistent readings, an unchanged routine, and confirmation of the exact liquid Red Sea Foundation A/B/C preparation and actual water volume, Tanksmith may show a bounded additional estimate for that formulation only. This is not a total daily prescription. Randy Recipe #1, BRS 2-Part, Aquaforest Component 1+/2+/3+, ESV B-Ionic and Tropic Marin All-For-Reef show product guidance but no automatic mL estimate. Follow the product label, adjust gradually and retest before dosing, especially if you followed an earlier estimate. WHY OFFLINE Tank records are stored on your device. If you share a Tank Report PDF, iOS sends the report to the destination you select. Photos are accessed only when you choose to attach one. Optional usage analytics use Google Analytics for Firebase and exclude tank records, notes, search text, health information and advertising identifiers. You can change your choice in Settings. Your tank history is yours to keep.

Screenshots

ReefDiary4 screens
Tanksmith4 screens

Verdict

The call

ReefDiary and Tanksmith are too close to call on the numbers: across 9 compared parameters — price, rating, ratings volume and update cadence among them — neither pulls far enough ahead to decide it. What separates them is feature set and interface, not measurable difference.

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. ReefDiary sells 3 in-app purchases, starting at $2.99 per 7 days and Tanksmith sells 1 one-off in-app purchase. Whichever you choose, the download price is not the number that matters.

ReceptionRating · Positive reviews · Number of ratings

On the App Store both sit at effectively the same score — 5.0 for ReefDiary against 5.0 for Tanksmith. Both are backed by a comparable volume of ratings — 1 and 1 respectively.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

ReefDiary ships an update every 4 weeks, Tanksmith fortnightly. The most recent releases landed on October 31, 2026 and November 5, 2026 respectively.

ScorecardNo meaningful differences
ReefDiary versus Tanksmith: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterReefDiaryTanksmith
PriceFreeFree
Rating5.0 (1 ratings)5.0 (1 ratings)
Number of ratings11
Update frequencyEvery 4 weeksFortnightly — better
AdsNoNo
In-app purchasesYesYes
MonetizationFreemiumFree with in-app purchases
DevicesiPhone, iPadiPhone, iPad
Requires iOS17.017.0
Further details — not scored
Size9 MB5 MB
Age rating4+4+
DeveloperPetr PersianovOMAR DANIEL GRAZIANO

Customer experience

ReefDiary

All ratings1 ratings
Positive100.0%
Neutral0.0%
Negative0.0%

Tanksmith

All ratings1 ratings
Positive100.0%
Neutral0.0%
Negative0.0%

In-app purchases

3 purchases

ReefDiary

Subscriptions3
  • ReefTrack Pro – Weekly3 Days trial$2.997 Days
  • ReefTrack Pro – Monthly3 Days trial$7.991 Month
  • ReefTrack Pro – Yearly$29.991 Year
1 purchases

Tanksmith

One-time1
  • Tanksmith Pro$9.99

Questions

Is ReefDiary free?
ReefDiary is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Is Tanksmith free?
Tanksmith is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Which has better reviews, ReefDiary or Tanksmith?
ReefDiary and Tanksmith are both rated 5.0 out of 5 on the App Store, from 1 and 1 ratings respectively.
Do ReefDiary or Tanksmith have ads?
Neither ReefDiary nor Tanksmith shows ads.
Which is updated more often, ReefDiary or Tanksmith?
ReefDiary ships an update every 4 weeks, and Tanksmith fortnightly. Most recently, ReefDiary was updated on October 31, 2026 and Tanksmith on November 5, 2026.

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