Privacy Policy

Overview

App-aquatic is a hobbyist companion app for aquarium setup dashboards, visualisations, and water parameter tracking. This policy explains how we handle data.

Data we collect

• Feedback you submit (message, category, optional email).
• Disclaimer acceptance event (install ID and timestamp).
• Anonymous site usage metrics via Google Analytics (only after consent).
• Anonymous in-app usage metrics via Google Firebase Analytics (see below).
• Photos you choose to scan with an AI-assisted feature (e.g. test strips, kit colour charts, fish/species photos, tank photos) - sent for processing as described in AI-assisted features & photo processing below.
• A random, non-identifying device ID created the first time you use the app, used to apply AI feature usage limits and prevent abuse - see Device identifier below.
• Species you request we add to the app (species name and any notes you provide), optionally linked to your device ID.
• Crash and diagnostic reports if the app encounters an error - see Crash & diagnostic reports below.

Analytics & usage data (mobile app)

App-aquatic uses Google Firebase Analytics to collect anonymous usage data. This helps us understand how the app is used and improve the experience. No personally identifiable information (name, email, address, etc.) is collected.

The data we collect includes:

• Which screens are viewed
• How often the app is opened
• Feature usage counts (e.g. number of water test scans, tanks created, species added)
• Which test kit brands are selected
• Whether scans use the free or premium mode
• General engagement milestones (e.g. user completed their 10th scan)

This data is aggregated and anonymous - it is not linked to your identity and cannot be used to identify you. We do not sell, share, or transfer this data to third parties for advertising purposes.

Firebase Analytics may collect a device advertising identifier. This is used solely for analytics purposes and is not used for ad targeting. On iOS, you may be asked to allow or deny tracking; denying will not affect app functionality.

You can learn more about how Google handles Firebase data at https://firebase.google.com/support/privacy.

Analytics consent

We only load Google Analytics after you opt in using the consent banner. You can change your choice anytime by clearing this site's storage in your browser.

AI-assisted features & photo processing

Some features are AI-assisted and involve sending a photo you choose to scan (from your camera or photo library) to Google's Gemini API for processing. This includes: water test strip and kit colour-chart scanning, fish/species identification (including an optional health/condition assessment you can request), tank photo scanning, tank photo comparison, AI-generated tank/aquascape suggestions, and AI-generated tank plans. AI-generated tank plans may also include relevant details from your tank's saved history (e.g. recent water-test readings, stocking, and maintenance dates) so the suggestion can be tailored to your tank.

Photos and related data sent for AI processing are used only to generate the result shown to you. We do not store the photos you submit on our own servers - they are processed transiently and are handled subject to Google's own data-handling terms for the Gemini API. This processing takes place on Google's infrastructure in the United States.

Before first use, AI-assisted features show an in-app consent screen explaining that photos are sent to a cloud AI provider, along with relevant disclaimers (for example, that health/condition assessments are not a substitute for professional advice). You can decline and continue using the app's non-AI features.

Device identifier

The app creates a random device ID (via Firebase Anonymous Authentication) the first time you use it. This ID is not linked to your name, email, or any other personal information you haven't separately given us. We use it to apply monthly AI feature usage limits fairly, prevent abuse of AI features, and to link an optional species request to the device that submitted it. This ID persists across app updates but is removed if you uninstall the app.

Crash & diagnostic reports

We use Google Firebase Crashlytics to automatically collect crash reports and diagnostic information if the app encounters an error. This can include a crash stack trace, device and OS information, app version, and limited technical context such as your subscription status and app language (used to help us reproduce and fix the issue). This data is used for stability and bug-fixing purposes only.

In-app purchases & subscriptions

Premium and subscription purchases are handled entirely by the Apple App Store or Google Play, using your existing App Store/Play account. We do not receive or store your payment card details. We receive only a confirmation of your purchase or subscription status, which the app uses on your device to unlock premium features.

International data transfers

App-aquatic's backend services (Google Firebase and Google Cloud Functions) and the Google Gemini API used for AI-assisted features run on infrastructure located in the United States. If you use the app from the UK, EEA, or elsewhere outside the US, your data (including any photos sent for AI processing) will be transferred to and processed in the US.

Children's privacy

App-aquatic is not directed at children and is not intended for use by children under 13. We do not knowingly collect personal information from children. If you believe a child has provided us with personal information, please contact us using the details below and we will delete it.

Data stored on your device

Your tanks, stock, and water parameter readings are stored locally on your device. We do not automatically sync this data to a server.

Optional backups

You can export your data for your own backup purposes. Exported files remain on your device unless you share them.

How we use data

Feedback helps improve the app. We do not sell personal data. We only use the information you submit to respond to issues and improve features.

Third-party services

Feedback, disclaimer acknowledgements, AI feature usage counts, and species requests are stored using Firebase (Google Cloud), and AI-assisted features are processed using Google's Gemini API, as described above. The mobile app uses Firebase Analytics and Firebase Crashlytics as described in Analytics & usage data (mobile app) and Crash & diagnostic reports above. See Google's Firebase support - privacy, Google's Gemini API terms, and Google's privacy policy for more details.

Premium and subscription purchases are processed by the Apple App Store or Google Play - see In-app purchases & subscriptions above.

This website uses Google Analytics to collect anonymous usage data to help improve the site. IP anonymisation is enabled only after you consent (see Analytics consent).

Premium & AI features; usage limits

Paid and trial access to AI-assisted features may be subject to usage limits (for example monthly quotas, per-feature caps, or rate limits). We reserve the right to change those limits, the AI models or providers we use, or the availability or behaviour of AI features from time to time - where reasonably necessary to reflect third-party AI or infrastructure costs, capacity or security constraints, fair use, abuse prevention, or changes to how we operate the service. Limits and descriptions shown in the app or in app store listings describe what applies at that time and do not guarantee that limits or features will stay the same.

Where app store rules or applicable law require notice or consent for specific changes to paid offerings, we will comply with those requirements.

Your choices

You can choose not to submit feedback. If you have questions about your data, contact us and we will help where possible.

Data Deletion

You can delete app data stored on your device, including your device ID, by uninstalling the app. To request deletion of any feedback, support data, species requests, or AI usage records associated with your device, email aarondavidminton+app-aquatic-delete@hotmail.co.uk. We aim to complete deletion requests within 30 days.