The Vision: A New Era of Reefkeeping

The vision behind the ReefManager ecosystem is as precise as it is simple. It is the foundation for a complete ecosystem that initiates a fundamental change in reef aquaristics.

Away from...

Secret knowledge reserved for a select few. Away from expensive, often inefficient products that promise a supposedly simple and quick, but rarely sustainable or even functional, solution for every problem.

Towards...

• An open, data-driven, and successful community where knowledge is shared, not kept secret.
• A tool that paves the way to success for beginners willing to learn, while also providing professionals with an incredibly powerful tool for precise, replicable analyses and adjustments.
• An approach to aquaristics where intelligent algorithms and AI make the complexity of biochemistry manageable, replacing expensive miracle cures.
• A perfect synergy of software and hardware that not only saves time but also makes the hobby more accessible, affordable, and, above all, sustainably successful for a broader audience.
• An affordable DIY solution for everyone who wants to configure their own hardware instead of buying expensive off-the-shelf products.
• The brilliant combination of inexpensive yet reliable hardware with extremely sophisticated and optimized software to create a product that outperforms more expensive hardware-based alternatives.

Outlook

"The ReefManager app represents a true milestone in marine aquaristics. It sets new standards in aquarium care and will soon be considered the state of the art—indispensable for anyone who wants to run their reef aquarium professionally and efficiently."

- Patrick Gast, one of Germany's most successful coral breeders

As one of Germany's most successful coral breeders, Patrick recognized the potential behind my vision, which has taken shape through the app, early on and now uses the software in his own breeding facility.

My Personal Journey

The Frustrating Start: Expensive Lessons

My journey into the world of marine aquaristics began, like for so many others, with a great deal of frustration. I invested a lot of money in expensive products and supposed miracle cures, only to find that the hoped-for success never materialized; in fact, things sometimes got worse. By that point, I had already spent the first €3,000 on the tank and equipment, and another €2,000 on corals and fish (because more is "known" to be better for corals 😉).

The Long Road to Understanding: Research over Marketing

Driven by the desire to truly understand the complex biochemical relationships instead of blindly following marketing promises, I began a long journey of research and countless experiments with over 50 of my own aquariums.

The Sobering Truth: Seeing Through the System

At the end of this journey came the sobering realization: I had fallen for a huge marketing machine where there was an overpriced product for every problem, which ultimately didn't work because the real issue was something else entirely—usually a simple fundamental. This intensive engagement led to the crucial insight of what really matters.

The Drive: Sharing Knowledge, Enabling Success

The most beautiful reward for these years of work is the emotional reactions of other aquarists. Many who visit me get goosebumps because they have never seen such a healthy and extremely diverse tank. These moments touch me deeply because I know the desperation of investing a high four-figure sum, countless hours of work, and nerves, only to see the animals not thrive as desired, or even die. For many, it's unusual for someone to share their knowledge so openly and without secrets. For me, it's a matter of course; this way, I can learn from others' mistakes and validate my cause-and-solution-oriented approach. This led to desperate aquarists having their entire tank environment transformed into one "bursting with life" with just a few adjustments. Without further investment and—to my not-so-surprising discovery—with much less work on the tank. A vital tank, as a more or less self-contained ecosystem, runs almost by itself. At this point, desperation and the feeling of being trapped in a vicious cycle of death and investment turned into hope, and tears have even been shed.

A Vision for Everyone

From the desire to make this success possible for many more people—those who may not have a strong mathematical understanding, the time to delve deep into the subject, or simply the inclination because they just want to admire the beauty of corals—the ReefManager was born. It is much more than just hardware or an app; it is a vision.

Tackling the Problem: A Solution for All

Stagnation in the Community

Many "old hands" in reef aquaristics, who have acquired enormous know-how, don't take beginners seriously—"if you can't understand the connections, can't do the math, you're not an aquarist"—but making money off them is fine, of course! The result? A community that hasn't grown for a long time, where products become more expensive and marketing more aggressive to survive in the market.

My Answer: A Tool for Beginners and Pros

This is where I come in. My system is not only probably the perfect solution for beginners (provided they are willing to absorb the knowledge, more on that below), but also an incredibly powerful professional tool. It fills the gap left by other systems with overpriced technology and a flood of additional products by calculating new dosing amounts for the tank in a way that is exact, replicable, and freely parameterizable. This is not only more precise than manual adjustments but also saves an enormous amount of time and documents all processes seamlessly in one place.

The Core: Powerful Software, Perfect Synergy

The heart of the system beats in the software, which now comprises around 170,000 lines of code. It is an extremely powerful tool on its own, but in conjunction with the upcoming ReefManager hardware, it achieves the absolute maximum. Through this approach and a price that is uncharacteristically low for the market, the system has the potential to make this fascinating hobby accessible to a broader audience and revolutionize the entire scene.

The Grand Vision: A Data-Driven Community

With the ReefManager hardware, whose first prototype and market-ready embedded system were completed in early 2025, I began to realize my vision. In early 2025, I then threw myself into the development of the app, into which all my free time has since flowed. With this, I want to lay the foundation for my grand vision:

• I want to not only give the reefer scene the opportunity for a new upswing but also create a central data collection point for reef aquaristics, which will be analyzed with the help of AI as part of my PhD.
• Every user can participate in the scientific publications that will be published in this field as part of my planned PhD (if they agree to share their data).
• I want to build a community where the goal is not to sell as much and as expensively as possible, but to get the maximum out of the minimum amount of money—more on that below when I tell you about the hardware and the collaboration with 3D-IRS.

A Look into Practice

Before things get exciting, here's a little search puzzle. Can you find all ~60 different species of Chalice or the ~40 different species of Alveopora..? 😉

My LPS tank "CandyMountain" with 350L @ 2.5°dKH / day (Measurements: KH ~every 5 days, Ca and Mg monthly via ICP)

Knowledge Transfer: From Beginner to Pro

My main job is in research and university teaching, where 4 years ago I developed an online platform where students can learn to program with as little frustration as possible, their code is automatically checked, and they receive feedback as quickly as possible, achieving significantly greater success in a short time than was the case before this tool was introduced. My expertise lies not only in reef aquaristics or programming but also in preparing complex knowledge in such a way that the learning success (for students) is maximized and the effort is minimized. The ReefManager app uses fundamental findings from educational research to make you an expert on your own tank in the fastest way possible.

A Powerful Tool Requires Responsibility

The Precision Tool Analogy

Compare the ReefManager to a sniper rifle: someone who cluelessly fiddles with it without reading the manual might end up shooting themselves. Someone who only skims the basics might hold it the right way around. But only those who read, understand, and internalize the instructions will hold an incredibly powerful tool that they know how to use. A tool not made to end life, but to let it flourish within its specific framework.

My Appeal to You: Use the Knowledge

I have spent weeks creating extensive guides and help texts—please use them. My goal is your success, so safety and understanding are my top, non-negotiable priorities.

An Honest Assessment

If you are not the type to read and build knowledge, this app is not the right tool for you. It is crucial that you understand the numerous hints in the app to avoid endangering your aquarium and to achieve the same success as me and many other users.

The Core: Intelligent Algorithms Instead of Expensive Miracle Cures

Other manufacturers sell you products. I give you back control—with unique, mathematical tools based on your real data.

More Than Just Algorithms: A Complete Ecosystem

Based on 170,000 lines of code, the ReefManager offers a multitude of features that make your hobby easier, more successful, and more enjoyable. A very brief glimpse into a few of the app's functions…

• Unique AI Assistant: Our AI is not comparable to freely available tools. It accesses ALL the data you have stored and provides in-depth, personalized analyses.
• Well-Founded Knowledge Base: An end to half-knowledge. Our database offers well-founded information with clear source citations.
• Connected Community: Find like-minded people in your area via the interactive map and contact them immediately with just one click via WhatsApp or Instagram.
• Reef 'n' Survive Game: Compete with the community in our integrated game and win great prizes.
• ...and of course, much, much more!