The NextUpReef Hub brings your probes, equipment, and alerts into the app you already use — monitoring, trending, and AI advice, all in real time.
Works on any reef tank — a brand-new setup or alongside a controller you already own.
Want to automate your reef today? Shop Shelly smart outlets →— works with NextUpReef right now, no Hub needed.
Whether you run an Apex today or you're starting fresh, there's a way in — and you can grow from there.
The NextUpReef Hub is a dedicated device — a small box that sits by your tank, plugs into power, and joins your home Wi-Fi. It runs the NextUpReef software, built specifically for reef monitoring and control.
Unlike a phone app that only works when your phone is on, the Hub runs on its own, around the clock. It continuously reads your probes, talks to your smart plugs, and keeps your tank data flowing — whether your phone is in your pocket, at work, or dead on the nightstand.
Built on proven, industry-standard hardware (Raspberry Pi 5) — reliable, well-supported, and not a locked-down black box.
The Apex is great at reading your tank. Where it stops short is helping you act on what it sees — that's what NextUpReef adds.
To actually control equipment — not just monitor it — the closest Neptune system is the A3 Apex with its EnergyBar. Here is how the two compare.
Comparison based on pricing and specifications publicly listed by retailers as of May 2026; details may change — verify current information with the manufacturer. Neptune Systems® and Apex® are trademarks of Neptune Systems. NextUpReef is independent and is not affiliated with, endorsed by, or sponsored by Neptune Systems.
The smart plugs store their schedules locally, right on the device. If your internet drops, your phone dies, or the cloud is unreachable, your heater and dosing pump keep running exactly as scheduled. The NextUpReef app is how you watch over your reef and get alerts — it is never a single point of failure for your tank's survival.
Drop your email and we'll let you know the day pre-orders open. A handful of early reefers will get devices at cost in exchange for setup feedback.
The NextUpReef Hub is a small device that connects your reef tank to the NextUpReef app. It brings live probe readings, smart-plug control, and alerts together in one place — monitoring, trending, and the AI Reef Advisor you already use, now driven by real-time data.
The Hub is a dedicated device built on a Raspberry Pi 5 — proven, industry-standard hardware — running the NextUpReef software made specifically for reef monitoring and control. It plugs into power, joins your home Wi-Fi, and runs on its own around the clock, independent of your phone.
Yes — that's exactly what the standalone Hub is for. It connects to your existing Apex and streams your live pH, temperature, Trident, and other readings straight into the NextUpReef app in real time. You keep your Apex; you just get a better app experience on top of it. This is the lowest-cost way to start.
There are two options. The NextUpReef Hub is $179 — the standalone Hub device, ideal if you already have probes or a Neptune Apex. The NextUpReef Hub Complete is $379 and adds a lab-grade pH probe, a temperature monitor, and two smart plugs. Both are one-time hardware purchases. The app runs on NextUpReef Pro at $4.99/month, with a discount for paying yearly.
The $379 NextUpReef Hub Complete includes the Hub device, a lab-grade pH probe, a temperature monitor, and two smart plugs. The smart plugs let you monitor and control equipment like a heater, dosing pump, return pump, or anything else you want automated — all from the app.
Yes. You can add more smart plugs, leak sensors, and other accessories any time. Start with what you need and expand as your tank grows — everything new shows up in the NextUpReef app automatically.
Your tank keeps running. The smart plugs store their schedules locally on the device itself — so if the internet drops, your phone dies, or the cloud is unreachable, your heater and dosing pump keep running exactly as scheduled. The cloud is there for you to monitor; it is never a single point of failure for your tank.
NextUpReef Pro unlocks the AI Reef Advisor, advanced analytics, and automation features. Pro is $4.99/month or $39.99/year. Basic monitoring works on the free tier; Pro is where the Hub really shines.
We're finalizing hardware now and opening a pre-order waitlist. Early reefers on the list get first pick, and a few will receive devices at cost in exchange for setup feedback. Join the waitlist to be notified the moment pre-orders open.
