Comparison

ReefDrift vs Tankquil

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

Head to head
About

ReefDrift

Features
Read full description

Log every reef parameter in seconds. ReefDrift calculates a Tank Stability Score β€” Stable, Watch, or Danger β€” the instant you save a reading. Catch a 0.3 dKH swing before it costs $500 in coral. No account. No cloud. Just your tank data, on your device. LOG THE BIG THREE AND EVERYTHING ELSE Alkalinity (dKH), Calcium, Magnesium β€” the parameters reef keepers obsess over. Plus Nitrate, Phosphate, pH, Salinity, Temperature, Ammonia, and Nitrite. Last values pre-fill automatically so a full test set takes under ten seconds, not one screen per parameter. TANK STABILITY SCORE ReefDrift calculates a Stable, Watch, or Danger score the instant you save a reading. The score weights every parameter against your target band and flags drift between sessions. A single alk swing from 8.4 to 7.1 dKH registers as Danger before you wonder why a frag is pale. Out-of-range chips light up on the dashboard immediately β€” no digging, no scrolling. DOSING CALCULATOR β€” WIRED TO YOUR TANK BRS 2-part, ESV B-Ionic, Red Sea Foundation, Aquaforest KH Coralline, and custom products. Enter tank volume and current reading; ReefDrift gives you the exact dose to hit your target. Works for alk, cal, mag, NO3, and PO4. The math uses your real tank volume, not a generic estimate. TREND CHARTS WITH TARGET-RANGE BANDS Every reading plotted on a line chart with your target band overlaid. See whether alkalinity is riding the top of the band, drifting toward the floor, or cycling after a large dose. Adjust the time window from 7 days to 12 months. MAINTENANCE LOG Record water changes, GFO swaps, ATO top-offs, carbon additions, and frag-tank moves. Cross-reference maintenance events against parameter charts to see what actually moved the needle. TEST REMINDERS Set a reminder per parameter or per task. ReefDrift sends a local notification on schedule β€” no server required. Never miss a Friday alk test again. HOME SCREEN WIDGET Your last three parameters and next task on your iPhone home screen or lock screen. See your tank status without opening the app. BUILT BY REEF HOBBYISTS We run SPS-dominant systems. We have watched a two-week alk drift destroy a $2,000 Acropora collection. We built ReefDrift because every existing option was either abandoned, clunky, cloud-first, or a bloated social network with a parameter logger bolted on. ReefDrift is ruthlessly focused: fast log, honest score, useful calculator. Nothing else. PRIVACY β€” YOUR DATA STAYS ON YOUR DEVICE No account. No cloud. No login. All readings are stored locally on your iPhone and never leave your device unless you export them as CSV. Nothing to hack, nothing to lose in a server outage. ReefDrift Pro: Monthly $3.99 Β· Yearly $19.99 (save 58%) Β· Lifetime $59.99 β€” unlimited tanks, no ads, home screen widget, advanced charts, dosing correlation, and PDF reports. Supports: dKH, meq/L, ppm Β· SG, ppt Β· Β°C, Β°F Terms of Use: https://www.apple.com/legal/internet-services/itunes/dev/stdeula/ Privacy Policy: https://lid-web-privacy.web.app/reefdrift-privacy-policy-ios.html

About

Tankquil

Currently charting
Read full description

Keep your marine aquarium’s tests, dosing plans, and maintenance in one place. Tankquil supports Mixed Reef, SPS Dominant, LPS Dominant, Soft Coral, FOWLR (fish only with live rock), Fish Only, Nano Reef, Frag Tank, and other marine setups. β€’ Log water test results and review charts, reading history, and adjustable target ranges. β€’ Follow guided testing steps and use reaction timers with sound and vibration options. β€’ Work through guided dosing tools for essential elements, nutrient management, and supported complete dosing systems, with product preparation checks and limits. β€’ Record doses, organize dosing schedules, and review guidance based on test trends and dosing history. β€’ Plan maintenance with reminders, record completed work and aquarium events, and keep equipment records. β€’ Explore fish, coral, and invertebrate profiles, photo credits, and compatibility planning. β€’ Learn with Aquarium 101 and revisit the app walkthrough when you need help. Tankquil provides planning and reference guidance. Always verify current product labels and manufacturer instructions, use accurate water volume and fresh test results, and follow product-specific limits. Tankquil does not control or verify physical dosing equipment. Species and compatibility guidance is not a guarantee.

Screenshots

ReefDrift4 screens
Tankquil4 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is price: ReefDrift at Free against Tankquil's $0.99. Tankquil's advantage is in-app purchases (none vs 3) and ads (none vs shown). On device support and iOS requirement there is nothing between them.

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

CostPrice Β· In-app purchases Β· Ads Β· Monetization

ReefDrift is free to download; Tankquil costs $0.99 up front. ReefDrift sells 3 in-app purchases, starting at $3.99 per month. Tankquil asks for nothing beyond the download.

Scorecard4 real differences Β· 3 level
ReefDrift versus Tankquil: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterReefDriftTankquil
PriceFree β€” better$0.99
Update frequencyEvery 2 weeksβ€”
AdsYesNo β€” better
In-app purchasesYesNo β€” better
Best chart rankβ€”#178 β€” better
DevicesiPhone, iPad β€” betteriPhone
Requires iOS18.217.0 β€” better
Further details β€” not scored
Size16 MB57 MB
Age rating4+4+
DeveloperMuge AkalinAvrian Zajac

In-app purchases

3 purchases

ReefDrift

Subscriptions2
  • ReefDrift Pro Monthly$3.991 Month
  • ReefDrift Pro Yearly$19.991 Year
One-time1
  • ReefDrift Pro Lifetime$59.99
None

Tankquil

No in-app purchases

Questions

Is ReefDrift free?
ReefDrift is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Is Tankquil free?
Tankquil costs $0.99, with no in-app purchases.
Do ReefDrift or Tankquil have ads?
ReefDrift shows ads; Tankquil does not.

Other comparisons