Shopping list — what to buy to build the controller
Reading time: ~12 minutes · Audience: anyone who wants to build the controller from scratch
🟢 Fundamental Guide — mandatory onboarding path. Without it, the system will not start.
🗺️ Your JoyReef Path:
- Shopping list ← YOU ARE HERE
- Controller assembly
- Firmware + WiFi
- Tank and sensor configuration
- Tasmota smart plugs
- Automations (ATO, etc.)
This is what you will get: the controller assembled and powered on next to the tank.
1. What you are about to build
A small control unit that keeps an eye on your tank 24/7 and alerts you on your phone if something goes wrong. It measures temperature, monitors water levels (for automatic top-off), and, connected to smart plugs, turns the heater, skimmer, and pumps on and off based on the sensors.
Total cost: from €50 (monitoring only) to €130 (full version with a dedicated pH device and all smart plugs). All components are purchased online.
Time: 15 minutes to place orders, then 30-90 minutes of assembly when the stuff arrives. No soldering required: a small expansion board is used where each NodeMCU pin becomes a numbered screw terminal. To connect a sensor, just strip the end of the cable, insert it into the correct terminal, and tighten the screw.
2. Basic Setup (≈ €30-35)
Everything you need for the minimum version: tank temperature, up to 4 level sensors (for automatic top-off), and a small screen that shows what's happening. Smart plugs are in a separate section later.
| # | Component | Qty | Price | Where |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | NodeMCU v3 (LoLin, wide version) — the "brain" of the controller, a small board with integrated WiFi. ⚠️ Get the v3 LoLin with the CH340 chip, the wide one: it is the only one that fits the screw shield in row 6. "Amica" boards and v2 are narrower and don't match | 1 | €7-9 | Amazon · AliExpress |
| 2 | DS18B20 temperature sensor (bare TO-92 chip) ⚠️ — the tank thermometer. Buy the bare chip and waterproof it at home with a drop of epoxy resin (see the box below the table). Do not buy the "waterproof" probes with a stainless steel tip: in a marine aquarium they corrode within weeks and release metals that are toxic to corals and fish. Plastic-capped probes would be fine, but they can no longer be found reliably | 1 | €3-6 | Amazon |
| 3 | 4.7 kΩ Resistor — small component necessary for the probe to function. Costs a few cents but is indispensable | 1 | €0.05 | Often included in DS18B20 kits, otherwise Aliexpress |
| 4 | Float switches — switches that activate when water touches them. Used for automatic top-off and water changes | 4 | €1.5-3 each | Amazon · AliExpress |
| 5 | 0.91" 128×32 I2C OLED display (SSD1306) — small screen showing temperature and controller address. ⚠️ It must be 128×32 and I2C, not the 0.96" 128×64 nor the SPI version: the standard firmware is built for this panel. It's the component with the most wires to connect (4), but nothing complicated: we'll talk about it step-by-step in the assembly guide | 1 | €6-9 | Amazon |
| 6 | Expansion board (screw shield) for NodeMCU v3 — base with a screw terminal for each NodeMCU pin. You place the NodeMCU on top and each pin becomes a numbered screw ready to receive a wire. ⚠️ Make sure it's the v3 version: the NodeMCU v3 has its two pin rows further apart than the v2, and it won't fit a narrow shield unless you force the pins inwards | 1 | €4-8 | Amazon · AliExpress |
| 7 | Cable / Jumper set M/F + M/M — to connect the display and float switches to the board. You often already have some at home, otherwise, one kit is more than enough | 1 set | €3-5 | Amazon · AliExpress |
| 8 | 5V 2A USB Power Supply — a common phone charger. 1A is not enough (the controller resets under WiFi load) | 1 | €5-8 | You probably have one at home, otherwise Amazon |
| 9 | Micro-USB data cable — Android phone cable, must be "data", not just charging | 1 | €1-3 | Amazon |
Total: €38-45 if you buy everything, ~€30-35 if you already have the charger and cable at home.
🛠️ How to waterproof the DS18B20 chip. The chip has three legs (ground, data, power). Push each leg into a female jumper wire from row 7 (or solder three wires, if you know how), then bury the chip and the joints in a generous drop of clear two-part epoxy glue or resin: a tube from the hardware store is enough. A handy way is to slide everything into the tip of a piece of rigid plastic tube, or a thick straw sealed at the bottom, and fill it with resin. Let it cure for 24 hours and check that no leg is exposed: only plastic and resin go into the tank, never metal. A DS18B20 protected this way reads with an extra 1-2 seconds of lag, which doesn't matter for a tank.
💡 Want a more complete solution? In the advanced setup below you will also find: factory reset button, the dedicated pH device (probe + ADS1115 + ESP board), industrial power supply, 3D printed case.
The basic setup components, so you can recognize them when the packages arrive.
3. Advanced Setup (optional components, +€20-50)
All items here are optional and independent: buy only what interests you, you don't need to get everything at once.
💡 pH is now a separate device. The pH components below (probe, ADS1115, buffers) no longer connect to the controller: together with their own ESP board they form a dedicated pH device, separate and standalone. One probe = one device. If you want to monitor pH (or feed a calcium reactor / KH titration) start from guide 18 — pH Device, which explains assembly, flashing, and calibration.
| # | Component | What it's for | Price | Where |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Button | Allows for hardware factory reset (useful if you change WiFi and lose credentials). Without it, the only possible reset is to reconnect via USB and reflash | €0.20 | Amazon · AliExpress |
| 2 | DFRobot SEN0161-V2 pH probe ⭐ | Measures water acidity, fundamental for those keeping SPS. It is part of the dedicated pH device (guide 18), it does not connect to the controller. Needs to be calibrated every 2-3 months with the fluids below | €25-40 | Amazon · AliExpress · DFRobot Store |
| 3 | ADS1115 Module | The ADC that reads the pH probe (the ESP board alone cannot read precise analog signals). Connects with 2 wires (I2C) to the pH device board | €2-4 | Amazon · AliExpress |
| 4 | ESP board for the pH device (NodeMCU v3 / Wemos D1 mini) | The "brain" of the dedicated pH device: a standalone board (an ESP32-S3 as an alternative). No more pH probe on the controller: each probe has its own board | €3-5 | Amazon · AliExpress |
| 5 | pH 4.01 + 7.00 Buffer | Standard liquids to calibrate the pH probe. One pouch lasts 1-2 years if well-sealed | €4-8 | Amazon · AliExpress |
| 6 | Meanwell HDR-15-5 Power Supply | Professional power supply, more reliable than a phone charger. Useful if you put the controller in an electrical panel | €8-15 | Amazon · AliExpress |
| 7 | 3D printed case or IP65 electrical box | Container to close everything neatly. If you have a 3D printer, you can find free models on Thingiverse (search for "ESP8266 NodeMCU OLED case") | €5-10 | Amazon (electrical box) |
| 8 | Screw terminal blocks / Wago connectors | Allow you to disconnect and reconnect sensors without soldering. Convenient for maintenance | €0.30 each × 4-8 | Amazon · AliExpress |
⭐ = the one that makes the most difference if you get it. If you want pH, remember it's a complete package: pH probe + ADS1115 + dedicated ESP board + calibration buffers together form the pH device (guide 18).
💡 Want a permanent solution? If you are more experienced and want a "definitive" controller with components soldered onto a perfboard instead of screw terminals, write to us at support@joy-reef.com. We are preparing a dedicated guide.
The complete pH device package: probe + ADS1115 + ESP board + calibration buffers.
4. Smart plugs (Tasmota)
Smart plugs are normal adapters that plug into the socket behind the device (heater, pump, etc.) and allow the JoyReef controller to turn it on and off via WiFi. They are the piece that makes the system "intelligent": without these, the controller can only read sensors and alert you, but it cannot intervene on its own.
How many you need
It depends on how much you want to automate:
| Want JoyReef to manage... | Plugs needed |
|---|---|
| Only temperature monitoring + levels (no automation) | 0 plugs — you don't have to buy them |
| Automatic Top-Off (ATO) | 1 plug (for the ATO pump) |
| ATO + thermal safety (shuts off heater if too hot) | 2 plugs (ATO pump + heater) |
| Typical complete setup | 5 plugs: heater, ATO pump, skimmer, return pump, lights |
Recommended model
| EIGHTREE Tasmota Smart Plug ⭐ (pack of 4) | |
|---|---|
| Price | ~€49 for 4 (≈€12 each) |
| Pre-configured Tasmota | ✅ yes, from the factory — ready in 2 minutes |
| Power monitoring (watts) | ✅ yes, tells you how much the connected device consumes |
| Rating | 16 A: fine for heaters and chillers too |
| Plug | Italian / EU standard, 2.4 GHz WiFi only |
| Where | Amazon |
Buy the EIGHTREE directly: they already come with Tasmota installed, you just need to connect them to WiFi and enter the MQTT data. All other alternatives require technical steps (soldering, disassembly) outside the scope of this guide.
Alternatives (if the EIGHTREE are out of stock)
| Model | Price | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Nous A1T | €12-15 | The historical reference plug, pre-flashed with Tasmota. Comes and goes on Amazon: search for "Nous A1T" |
| Athom EU Plug Tasmota | €14-17 | Equivalent, also pre-flashed. Available on the Athom website |
❌ What NOT to buy
- Shelly Plug — it's a different brand, proprietary firmware, not compatible with JoyReef
- Generic "smart" plugs (TP-Link Kasa, Meross, Tuya, eWeLink) — use proprietary apps, do not talk to JoyReef
- Models to flash by hand (BlitzWolf SHP-15, Sonoff S31, Sonoff Basic) — require opening the plug and soldering, too much for a first project
The Tasmota smart plug: the piece that makes the system "smart."
5. What NOT to buy (anti-shopping list)
You might see advice on forums, Reddit, or YouTube videos pushing components that do not work or are not needed with JoyReef. Here they are, so you save money and frustration.
| Component | Why avoid it |
|---|---|
| DS18B20 probe with stainless steel cap | ⚠️ Toxic for marine aquariums: stainless steel corrodes in salt water in weeks and releases metallic ions harmful to corals and fish. Buy the bare chip and resin it yourself (see section 2) |
| 4-channel relay module to solder to NodeMCU | ⚠️ Dangerous: brings 230V directly onto the controller electronics. To turn devices on/off ALWAYS use Tasmota smart plugs (section 4) |
| ORP/Redox probe | Not yet supported by firmware (on the roadmap) — don't buy it now |
| Salinity/conductivity probe | Same thing, not yet supported |
| "Professional" temperature probes PT100/PT1000 + MAX31865 | Needed in laboratories (accuracy 0.05 °C). For a reef tank, the DS18B20 (section 2) is more than enough |
| Color TFT display | The OLED screen in section 2 already shows everything needed (temperature, IP). A larger display would consume resources without adding value |
| Mechanical flow sensor (YF-S201 and similar) | Not supported by firmware. For now, return flow is managed manually |
⚠️ Important on safety: all 230V switching must happen inside certified smart plugs (section 4). Never connect relays or switching modules directly to the controller — the NodeMCU works at 3.3-5 V and connecting 230V means risk of shock, fire, and death of the controller (in this order of severity).
6. Times and where it's convenient to buy
You have two main options, based on how impatient you are:
| Where | Time | Price | When to choose it |
|---|---|---|---|
| Amazon.it (or Amazon.de) | 1-3 days | Reference | You want to start soon, you have Prime, you don't mind paying a bit more |
| AliExpress (standard shipping) | 15-30 days | -30/-50% vs Amazon | You have time, you want to save, nothing urgent |
What I would do: order the main components (NodeMCU, DS18B20 probe, display, pH probe) on AliExpress to save, and get only the 2-3 things I need to start right away on Amazon — usually the power supply, float switches, and smart plugs, so in the meantime I can start familiarizing myself with the portal and configuring them.
💡 Tips for AliExpress - Choose sellers with at least 10,000 orders and 97% positive feedback - Free "Standard Shipping" is usually 15-30 days. For €2-5 more they offer "Premium" which arrives in 7-15 days - If you order multiple components from the same seller, it costs less (combined shipping) - Don't buy pH calibration buffers on AliExpress: they often arrive expired or damaged — get them on Amazon or at an aquarium shop
7. Ordered everything? What to do now
Well done, first part done. While you wait for the packages (1-3 days if Amazon, 2-4 weeks if AliExpress), you can already:
- Create your JoyReef account at portal.joy-reef.com — it's free, no credit card required
- Familiarize yourself with the dashboard by looking around: you'll see that without a connected controller it's empty, but you can already explore sections and understand where the data will go
As soon as your stuff arrives:
- Open the First start of the controller guide: it's a step-by-step 30-60 minute path that takes you from screwing components onto the board to seeing the first temperature reading on the dashboard.
✅ Quick checklist before starting assembly: you have (a) all components from section 2, (b) the charger and USB cable, (c) a computer with Chrome or Edge to load the firmware via browser. If yes, you're ready.
🛠️ Not sure about your resin-coated sensor? Write to us at support@joy-reef.com with a photo before putting it in the tank: we'll tell you whether it's properly protected.
Happy reefing!
JoyReef Guide · v1.0 · Questions? Write to us at support@joy-reef.com