Origins and scope
We began work on Reef Trak in July 2024. The early project was saved locally and preserved with Time Machine while the first tank records and care workflows took shape.
A version-controlled project history begins on December 15, 2024. Later milestones also use release notes and public store records so development dates remain distinct from dates when a feature reached users.
Timeline
Search by feature, filter by platform or milestone type, and open any card to see what changed and why it mattered.
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Development Reef Trak begins as a local project
Why it mattered
Development began as a locally saved iOS project focused on organizing tank records and routine reef care.
What changed
- Initial Reef Trak concept and app planning
- Early tank record and reef care workflows
- Local prototypes used to define the core tracking model
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Development Local builds and Time Machine backups
Why it mattered
Early versions were kept locally and preserved with Time Machine while the core screens and workflows were refined.
What changed
- Local app development during Reef Trak’s early phase
- Early Reef Trak screens and workflows refined over several months
- Time Machine backups used to preserve the growing project
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· 9:57 AM ET Development A version-controlled project history begins
Why it mattered
After several months of local development, Reef Trak gained the dated project record used for the milestones that follow.
What changed
- Tank profiles and the initial reef management foundation
- Water parameter logging and status tracking
- Maintenance and activity history foundations
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· 12:08–2:31 PM ET Development Maintenance status and alert controls
Why it mattered
Visual task status and configurable alert levels made scheduled care easier to interpret at a glance.
What changed
- Maintenance task status visualization
- Alert level controls for reef care tasks
- Activity log presentation improvements
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· 12:07–9:08 PM ET Development Searchable fish catalog and image system
Why it mattered
The first large livestock catalog arrived with standardized images, protected template records, sorting, and a pre-populated database.
What changed
- Searchable fish species catalog
- Standardized fish image handling
- Protected template fish records
- Alphabetical and difficulty sorting
- Pre-populated fish database
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· 10:32–11:40 AM ET Development Face ID and full CloudKit sync
Why it mattered
Biometric access and Apple cloud synchronization added device security and continuity across Apple devices.
What changed
- Face ID authentication
- CloudKit subscription setup
- Cross-device data synchronization foundation
- Cloud sync diagnostics and error handling
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Development Maintenance calendar, achievements, and PDF reports
Why it mattered
A three-day build sequence connected scheduled care, progress recognition, and shareable tank reporting.
What changed
- Today, Schedule, and Calendar maintenance views
- Recurring task scheduling
- Achievement tracking and global achievement progress
- PDF tank reports with gauges and trend charts
- Print support for reports
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Development Compatibility, custom care, and accessibility
Why it mattered
Reef Trak expanded from cataloging livestock to helping reef keepers evaluate compatibility and build their own care schedules.
What changed
- Comprehensive fish compatibility matrix
- Inline compatibility explanations and thumbnails
- Custom maintenance tasks and frequency selection
- VoiceOver support across core modules
- Dynamic Type support across core modules
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Development First App Store version record
Why it mattered
A version 1.0 App Store record established the submission path that preceded the public iOS launch.
What changed
- Initial App Store product record
- Version 1.0 submission history begins
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Development ICP processing and coral catalog foundations
Why it mattered
Reef Trak began turning lab reports into structured tank history while also building the coral catalog.
What changed
- Automated ICP result processing
- ATI report OCR and structured import
- Triton and Reef Moonshiners processing flows
- ICP-OES and ICP-MS test types
- Pollutant and trace-element parameter categories
- Coral catalog navigation and category filters
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Development Reef chemistry calculators expand
Why it mattered
Product-aware calcium and magnesium tools joined ammonia and phosphate dosing calculators before the public iOS launch.
What changed
- Calcium supplement calculator with product choices
- Magnesium supplement calculator
- Ammonia dosing calculator
- Phosphate dosing calculator
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Released Reef Trak launches publicly on iOS
Why it mattered
Reef Trak made its App Store debut, bringing the original tank management experience to iPhone and iPad.
What changed
- Tank and parameter tracking
- Maintenance scheduling and history
- Fish and coral records
- Reports, calculators, achievements, and early ICP workflows
- Cloud synchronization and Face ID support
Public record
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Version 1.0.3, March 26, 2025
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Version 2.1.0 states March 26, 2026 was one year on the iOS App Store
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Released Maintenance workflow and manual cloud sync
Why it mattered
Version 1.2 made recurring care easier to see and gave users direct control over synchronization.
What changed
- Maintenance calendar with checkmarks and progress
- Custom maintenance tasks
- Manual cloud sync control and sync progress
- In-app feedback flow
- Cloud sync stability improvements
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Released Cloud sync becomes available to every user
Why it mattered
Tank, parameter, coral, and fish synchronization moved into the free product experience.
What changed
- Free iCloud sync for tanks
- Free iCloud sync for parameters
- Free iCloud sync for fish and coral records
- Improved sync progress and stability
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Released Dosing management arrives
Why it mattered
A two-release rollout connected dosing products, schedules, reminders, maintenance, and PDF reporting.
What changed
- Dosing module and product setup
- Automated dosing reminders
- Guided product selection
- Dosing history in reports
- PDF report expansion
- Maintenance tracking refinements
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Released Feeding, notes, activity, and unified care
Why it mattered
Version 1.3 broadened Reef Trak from tracking tests into a more complete daily reef care record.
What changed
- Feeding module and scheduled feeding tasks
- Unified maintenance experience
- Expanded livestock management
- Notes and Activity Log
- Reports and calculators expansion
- Achievements and lifetime Premium option
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Released Parameter guidance and Quick Maintenance
Why it mattered
Reef Trak started pairing measurements with clearer next steps and faster care logging.
What changed
- Parameter solution guidance
- Quick Maintenance workflow
- Dashboard alerts
- Activity Log improvements
- Trend and notification improvements
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Released BlenAI is integrated into Reef Trak
Why it mattered
The first in-app AI experience connected reef records with contextual guidance alongside faster maintenance and alert tools.
What changed
- BlenAI assistant integration
- Premium tier
- Quick Maintenance refinements
- Dashboard alerts and notifications
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Released AI gains full tank context
Why it mattered
BlenAI began using structured context from the user’s tank record while keeping its analysis on device.
What changed
- On-device AI processing
- Parameter and dosing context
- Livestock and ICP context
- Maintenance history context
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· 11:39 AM ET Development Native Android implementation takes shape
Why it mattered
The Android history moved into a full native implementation with real tank storage, image handling, and an iOS-parity module structure.
What changed
- Native Android tank selection backed by a database
- Android image storage system
- Manufacturer and date pickers
- Eight-module application structure
- iOS-parity tank dashboard foundation
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Test build Android alpha adds cloud sync and photo storage
Why it mattered
The Android alpha added secure Google sign-in, cloud synchronization, reliable photo storage, and Quick Maintenance for early testers.
What changed
- Google sign-in and user-scoped Firestore data
- Fresh-install cloud download and conflict handling
- Firebase Storage photo backup and compression
- Background image uploads with retry support
- Quick Maintenance and 30-plus maintenance tasks
- Full-screen photo viewer and database-backed notes
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Released Reef Trak becomes publicly available on Android
Why it mattered
Reef Trak reached Android reef keepers in late October, bringing its tank tracking and care experience to a second mobile platform.
What changed
- Tank and parameter tracking on Android
- Maintenance and activity records
- Cloud account and synchronization foundation
- Native Android reef management experience
Public record
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Version 2.1.0 states Android was five months old on March 26, 2026
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Current public Reef Trak Android product record
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Test build Android livestock catalog and compatibility
Why it mattered
The Android livestock build brought a large searchable fish catalog, user photos, and compatibility checking to testers.
What changed
- 990 fish species and 938 catalog images
- Fish care detail screens
- User livestock photo capture
- Visual compatibility checker
- Common-name search and multi-fish add flow
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Test build Android ICP, coral, and invert modules
Why it mattered
Android testers received OCR-based lab imports and full coral and invert record flows.
What changed
- ICP lab report PDF parsing with OCR
- Enhanced Reef Moonshiners keyword matching
- Three-level coral catalog navigation
- Invert module with image support
- Livestock price, location, notes, and photos
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Released TrakAI export and unified species catalog
Why it mattered
Reef Trak replaced its closed in-app chatbot with a portable AI export and greatly expanded its built-in livestock knowledge.
What changed
- AI Insight Export, later named TrakAI
- Bring-your-own-AI workflow for structured tank history
- Unified catalog with 1,026 fish, 271 coral, and 81 inverts
- 334 new catalog images
- Catalog seeding and reliability improvements
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Released Dosing safety, deletion recovery, and automatic sync
Why it mattered
Three year-end releases hardened dosing schedules, deletion behavior, cross-device sync, and Premium restoration.
What changed
- Safer dosing calculations and corrected schedules
- Maintenance task deletion
- Deletion crash protection
- Automatic cross-device synchronization
- Premium purchase restoration
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Released Tank-wide search and Aquaforest ICP import
Why it mattered
Search, charts, parameter provenance, and another ICP vendor arrived together.
What changed
- Comprehensive tank search
- Additional parameter chart types
- Aquaforest ICP import
- Parameter source tracking
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Released Cross-platform account and cloud access
Why it mattered
Cloud records expanded beyond Apple-only sync so the same tank history could support web and other devices.
What changed
- Firestore synchronization for web and other devices
- Account and Cloud Access screen
- Multiple sign-in methods
- Email-based account access
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Released Navigation and historical care logging
Why it mattered
Reef Trak made long-term records easier to browse and allowed completed care to be entered for the correct past date.
What changed
- Navigation drawer
- Activity Log calendar
- Maintenance calendar refinements
- Backdated Quick Maintenance entries
- Expanded About information
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Released SEEDBASE catalog sync and editable history
Why it mattered
The first SEEDBASE catalog sync unified species data while users gained more control over historical records.
What changed
- SEEDBASE v1 unified catalog synchronization
- Critical feedback flags
- Activity Log deletion
- More precise timestamps
- Expanded livestock nutrition data
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Released Reef Trak 2.0 rebuild
Why it mattered
Version 2.0 rebuilt the core experience and introduced community-level reef data alongside expanded cross-platform features.
What changed
- Redesigned iOS interface and Version 2 navigation
- Rebuilt parameters, ICP, maintenance, notes, calculators, and dashboard
- Expanded cross-platform cloud sync
- Global Reef Index
- TrakTide social foundation
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· 21:26 UTC Released Fifteen languages and flexible scheduling
Why it mattered
Reef Trak expanded its language reach and added a true every-two-weeks care schedule.
What changed
- Fifteen supported languages
- Seven-day Premium trial
- Every-two-weeks maintenance scheduling
Public record
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Version 2.0.1 published February 14, 2026 at 21:26:56 UTC
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· 01:37 UTC Released Neptune Apex and Trident imports
Why it mattered
Controller measurements could be brought into the same parameter history as manual tests, with their source kept visible.
What changed
- Local Neptune Apex and Trident import
- Parameter source labels
- Refactored parameter architecture
- Backup and restore tools
- Global Reef Index improvements
Public record
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Version 2.0.2 published February 19, 2026 at 01:37:09 UTC
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· 19:28 UTC Released Automatic controller polling and Reef Zlements ICP
Why it mattered
Apex data moved from one-time import to automatic updates, and Reef Zlements lab results gained a direct import path.
What changed
- Automatic Neptune Apex and Trident import
- Reef Zlements ICP URL import
- Reef Zlements barcode import
Public record
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Version 2.0.3 published February 26, 2026 at 19:28:28 UTC
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· 00:13 UTC Released Expanded fish catalog and launch-time Apex import
Why it mattered
The livestock catalog grew while controller synchronization became more automatic.
What changed
- 287 additional fish species
- Apex automatic import when the app opens
- Catalog and controller reliability improvements
Public record
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Version 2.0.4 published March 6, 2026 at 00:13:33 UTC
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· 18:29 UTC Released Guided first-tank onboarding and livestock milestones
Why it mattered
New reef keepers received a guided path into the app while livestock records gained a visual history.
What changed
- Guided first-tank onboarding
- Livestock photo galleries
- Livestock milestone history
- Global Reef Index achievement aggregation
Public record
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Version 2.0.5 published March 10, 2026 at 18:29:41 UTC
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· 21:09 UTC Released Photo, reporting, and ICP vendor refinements
Why it mattered
The new onboarding and livestock systems were extended with more reliable photos, reports, and lab handling.
What changed
- Livestock and photo upgrades
- First-tank onboarding refinements
- Report improvements
- Improved ICP vendor handling
Public record
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Version 2.0.6 published March 12, 2026 at 21:09:44 UTC
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Released Three rapid reliability releases
Why it mattered
Three public releases focused on stability across Neptune imports, parameter ranges, dosing, persistence, and general reliability.
What changed
- Neptune import hardening
- Parameter range corrections
- Dosing reliability fixes
- Cross-platform stability improvements
Public record
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Versions 2.0.7, 2.0.8, and 2.0.9 published March 13, 17, and 19
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· 22:45 UTC Released One-year release adds ICP comparison
Why it mattered
On Reef Trak’s first iOS anniversary, both mobile apps gained ICP comparison workflows and major chart and catalog improvements.
What changed
- ICP comparison on iOS and Android
- Parameter chart overhaul
- Improved fish search and species matching
- Fish catalog maintenance tools
- Fauna Marin Coral Dust and Hanna calcium and magnesium sources
Public record
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Version 2.1.0 published March 26, 2026 at 22:45:12 UTC
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· 02:13 UTC Released Equipment tracking and community reviews
Why it mattered
Equipment became a structured part of the tank record, with catalog-backed details and community feedback.
What changed
- Equipment tracking
- Equipment catalog
- Equipment ratings and reviews
- Triton web import
- Tropic Marin ICP import
Public record
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Version 2.1.1 published April 10, 2026 at 02:13:59 UTC
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· 23:22 UTC Released Feeding schedules and equipment photos
Why it mattered
Daily care and equipment history gained more visual and scheduled detail.
What changed
- Equipment photo cropping
- Feeding schedules
- Apex and Neptune import refinements
- Cross-platform equipment improvements
Public record
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Version 2.1.2 published April 17, 2026 at 23:22:31 UTC
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· 18:24 UTC Released Custom livestock and photo history
Why it mattered
Custom livestock entries and their photo history became more reliable across devices.
What changed
- Custom livestock records
- Livestock photo history improvements
- Cross-platform reliability and edge-to-edge interface fixes
- Google Play in-app review flow
Public record
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Version 2.1.3 published April 23, 2026 at 18:24:57 UTC
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· 16:58 UTC Released TrakSitter and Vacation Mode
Why it mattered
Reef keepers could prepare a structured care session for someone watching the tank while they were away.
What changed
- TrakSitter care sessions
- Vacation Mode
- Sitter task lists and notes
- Owner review view
- Global Reef Index community displays
- Shopping and catalog groundwork
Public record
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Version 2.1.4 published April 28, 2026 at 16:58:18 UTC
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· 14:48 UTC Released Feature Directory, Stability Trak, and AI photo export
Why it mattered
Users gained a searchable map of Reef Trak’s growing feature set plus new stability and export tools.
What changed
- Feature Directory covering roughly 50 capabilities
- Stability Trak
- TrakAI Photo Export
- Shop Search
Public record
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Version 2.1.5 published May 1, 2026 at 14:48:37 UTC
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· 15:41 UTC Released Custom dosing products and Fauna Marin ICP
Why it mattered
Dosing setup became more flexible while measurement preferences stayed consistent across devices.
What changed
- Measurement and unit synchronization
- Custom dosing products
- Fauna Marin ICP import
- Cross-platform dosing parity improvements
Public record
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Version 2.1.6 published May 4, 2026 at 15:41:26 UTC
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· 20:38 UTC Released Apex Fusion and HYDROS cloud imports
Why it mattered
Controller integrations expanded from local data to cloud account imports with automatic polling and probe mapping.
What changed
- Neptune Apex Fusion cloud import
- HYDROS cloud import
- Automatic controller polling
- Probe-to-parameter mapping
- Cleaner import history and source handling
Public record
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Version 2.1.7 published May 7, 2026 at 20:38:36 UTC
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· 20:40 UTC Released PAR Map and light planning
Why it mattered
Reef Trak added a visual light-measurement record tied to the user’s actual tank photo and dimensions.
What changed
- PAR Map on a tank photo
- Tank model and dimension records
- Light planning with 195 fixtures
- Early Siri and Google Assistant parameter history access
- Improved search
- Parameter source visibility controls
Public record
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Version 2.1.8 published May 14, 2026 at 20:40:29 UTC
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· 5:16 PM ET Development Home screen widgets are built on both platforms
Why it mattered
Configurable home screen views made current parameters, due maintenance, and stability available without opening the app.
What changed
- Parameter widgets with recent trend context
- Maintenance due-today widget
- Stability overview widget
- Tank picker on iOS and Android
- Four Android widget variants with tap cycling
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· 02:13 UTC Released Widgets, expenses, receipts, and ReefDock
Why it mattered
Version 2.2.0 brought widgets, purchasing records, shopping, PAR tools, and annual care into one release.
What changed
- Home screen widgets on iOS and Android
- Expense tracking across reef purchase categories
- Receipt Scan Assist with editable detected line items
- ReefDock inside Reef Trak
- PAR Map improvements
- Expanded reef light catalog
- Yearly maintenance tasks
- Hanna HI755 and Red Sea calculator support
- First Web Portal blog and feature articles
Public record
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Version 2.2.0 published May 23, 2026 at 02:13:26 UTC
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Public Android listing documents widgets and current feature coverage
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· 02:51 UTC Released Guided Dosing, TrakTone, and Email Updates
Why it mattered
Reef Trak connected guided product setup and bottle tracking with a new reef-lighting photo and video correction tool.
What changed
- Rebuilt manual and Guided Dosing flows
- Bottle inventory, schedules, reminders, and dose logging
- TrakTone photo and video correction
- Before and after media comparison
- Email Updates with reef tank summaries
- Modern Reef dosing products and ICP URL import
Public record
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Version 2.2.1 published June 3, 2026 at 02:51:42 UTC
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· 20:50 UTC Released Guided setup, testing, cycling, and adaptive dosing
Why it mattered
Version 2.2.2 added connected beginner and advanced workflows from first tank setup through testing and dosing.
What changed
- Guided Onboarding and Setup
- Beginner Cycle Assistant
- Color Match Testing
- Guided Testing and Test Assist
- Dosing System Setup
- Guided Dosing Adaptive Engine foundation
- Verified Two-Part Planner
- Expanded Siri parameter queries
- Maintenance Snooze and Skip Once
- HYDROS per-parameter exclusions
- Email Updates send-time picker
Public record
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Version 2.2.2 published June 11, 2026 at 20:50:45 UTC
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· 15:14 UTC Released Freshwater and planted tank support
Why it mattered
The same connected tracking system expanded beyond reef aquariums into freshwater and planted tanks.
What changed
- Freshwater and planted tank modes
- 1,342 freshwater fish
- 129 aquatic plants and 48 freshwater invertebrates
- Freshwater dosing, feeding, maintenance, and testing
- Twenty-seven supported languages
- Web Portal ICP report import
- Faster and more reliable ICP processing
Public record
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Version 2.3.0 published June 19, 2026 at 15:14:35 UTC
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· 21:26 UTC Released Safer Guided Dosing and Reef Labs ICP
Why it mattered
Dosing recommendations became clearer and more conservative while Reef Labs joined the ICP import system.
What changed
- Clearer Guided Dosing steps and safety explanations
- Reef Labs ICP import
- Cross-platform dosing and import fixes
Public record
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Version 2.3.1 published June 24, 2026 at 21:26:02 UTC
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· 23:56 UTC Released Editable note time and faster photo sync
Why it mattered
Historical notes became more precise while media storage and international dosing product coverage expanded.
What changed
- Editable note dates and times
- Photo compression for faster uploads and lower storage use
- Photo synchronization and cleanup improvements
- Sixty-eight additional UK, EU, and German dosing products
Public record
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Version 2.3.2 published July 2, 2026 at 23:56:56 UTC
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· 20:17 UTC Released Verified-product dosing safeguards
Why it mattered
Version 2.3.3 tightened dosing calculations and limited guided recommendations to supported, verified products.
What changed
- Improved calcium, alkalinity, and magnesium calculations
- Guided Dosing only for supported verified products
- Better reef and freshwater separation in Web Portal product browsing
- New Triton Method, refugium, and water-change guides
- Additional parameter-save and stability protection
Public record
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Version 2.3.3 published July 9, 2026 at 20:17:41 UTC
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Updated July 9, 2026 with matching 2.3.3 release notes
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· 19:34 UTC Released Import, sync, backup, photo, and TrakTone reliability
Why it mattered
Version 2.3.4 concentrated on reliability across report imports, backup and restore, cloud sync, maintenance records, photos, and TrakTone video processing.
What changed
- Broader and more reliable ICP report identification and parsing
- Duplicate-import prevention and analysis-date preservation
- Safer backup validation, restore recovery, and account switching
- More complete cloud restoration of tank records
- TrakTone photo and video processing improvements
- Quick Maintenance detail and duplicate-entry protection
- Performance and reliability improvements for large or cloud-backed images
Public record
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Version 2.3.4 published July 16, 2026 at 19:34:48 UTC
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Released Tank Insights connected-records view
Why it mattered
Version 2.3.5 introduced Tank Insights, a swipe-left interactive view that connects testing, feeding, dosing, maintenance, water changes, and equipment records into one readable picture of the tank.
What changed
- Tank Insights: cross-record summary cards with expandable evidence, sparkline trends, and comparisons
- Careful relational language: events are shown as followed by or possibly related, never as claimed causes
- Available to all users, with dosing, maintenance, and equipment sections for Premium
- More consistent parameter tracking, including phosphorus and ICP trace element organization
- Freshwater GH and TDS visible through the Web Portal
- Fewer duplicate activity entries as records connect through canonical interop
- Sync safeguards against deleted tanks returning, faster first launch, and a photo-crop layout fix
Public record
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Version 2.3.5 submitted to App Store review July 23, 2026
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Version 2.3.5 (versionCode 100) uploaded to Google Play July 23, 2026
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Released Safer dosing, Controller Pulse widgets, and DIY dosing
Why it mattered
Version 2.3.6 brings safer dosing, smarter widgets, clearer tank insights, and several important reliability improvements.
What changed
- Safer dosing guidance: Reef Trak remembers what you have dosed during the previous 24 hours, helping prevent accidental repeat corrections after another low test; tasks, history, bottle levels, and recommendations stay aligned with the amount you actually confirmed
- Improved adaptive dosing: verified nutrient-control products once again use hold-at-target guidance, response timing, and learned adjustments; HOLD tasks clearly tell you when to skip a dose, and completing one confirms that nothing was added
- Guided DIY dosing: baking soda, soda ash, calcium chloride, and magnesium chloride with accurate calculations, mixing guidance, and safety warnings
- New Controller Pulse widgets: connection status and uptime at a glance, plus plain-English tank insights, parameter direction, range status, and warnings when controller data stops arriving
- Today in Your Tank: a simple daily brief atop Tank Insights — tests that may be due, overdue maintenance, developing trends, connection issues, or a reassuring "No action needed"
- Events directly on parameter charts: doses, water changes, and maintenance alongside readings
- Clearer fish transfers between tanks, preserving photos, history, notes, and purchase information
- Fixes: deleted tanks no longer return through cloud sync, clearer iCloud photo guidance, and a significantly smaller app download
- Complete localization coverage: thousands of strings completed across all 27 supported languages
Public record
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Version 2.3.6 submitted to App Store review July 30, 2026
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Version 2.3.6 (versionCode 101) uploaded to Google Play July 30, 2026
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Development Node One enters Phase 4 pre-production
Why it mattered
A working production-intent version of Node One was assembled by August 20, moving the dedicated reef-monitoring hub into Phase 4 pre-production and setup. It was not yet commercially available.
What changed
- Dedicated physical monitoring hub built specifically for reef aquariums
- Compatible equipment and sensor information brought together locally
- Walk-up reef dashboard for chemistry, pumps, power, lighting, and life-support status
- The same connected information available for viewing and analysis in Reef Trak on a phone
- Local operation with no monthly subscription
- Working production-intent version completed ahead of commercial availability
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About the dates
Development marks work recorded in the project, Test build marks an alpha or other testing milestone, and Released marks a version that reached users. A development date is not presented as a public release date.
An exact day appears when the surviving record supports it. A month, season, or date range is used when the available record is less precise. Public App Store times are shown in UTC; recorded development times are shown in ET.
Keeping the record current
This page is maintained as a product history rather than a complete engineering log. It keeps the milestones that changed what Reef Trak could do or how people used it.
New public releases and historically useful development milestones will be added as the product changes.