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How to Add a Shelly Smart Outlet to NextUpReef

May 23, 2026 · 5 min read · NextUpReef Team

Automate your doser, heater, skimmer, or return pump straight from the NextUpReef app. Setup takes about 5 minutes and you never need to install the Shelly app.

Don’t have a Shelly outlet yet? Shop compatible hardware →

What you need

Step-by-step setup

0

Open Smart Outlets

From the drawer menu, tap Control Center then Shelly Smart Outlets. Tap + Add in the top right to launch the setup wizard.

Shelly Smart Outlets screen
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You can also reach Smart Outlets from the Devices section in the drawer.

1

Plug it in

Plug your Shelly Plug US Gen4 into a wall outlet near your tank. The LED should slowly blink white, meaning it's in setup mode.

Step 1: Plug it in
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If the LED isn't blinking white, hold the button for 10 seconds to reset it, then unplug and plug back in.

2

Join the outlet's WiFi

Tap Open WiFi Settings. Connect to ShellyPlugUSG4-XXXXXX (no password). Switch back to NextUpReef and the app detects the outlet automatically.

Step 2: checking for outlet
Step 2: outlet connected
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Once detected you'll see the outlet ID confirmed on screen. Tap Next.

3

Connect to your home WiFi

Tap Scan for networks. Pick your home network and enter your password. The outlet only supports 2.4GHz WiFi.

Step 3: home WiFi picker
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If you see two versions of your network name, pick the 2.4GHz one, not 5GHz.

4

Start Setup

Tap Start Setup. NextUpReef sends WiFi credentials to the outlet, which reboots and joins your home network. The app finds it automatically by hardware ID.

Step 4: Start Setup
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While the outlet reboots, switch your phone back to home WiFi so the app can find it.

5

Name it and assign to a tank

Give the outlet a name, choose what it controls (Doser, Heater, Skimmer, Light, Return Pump, or Other), and pick which tank it belongs to. Tap Finish Setup.

Step 5: name and assign

What each outlet type does

Choosing the right type unlocks the right tools in the app.

Doser

Unlocks the full dosing schedule editor. Set daily mL, doses per day, and days of the week. NextUpReef calculates burst durations and programs the outlet automatically. Dosing history is logged in real time via webhook.

Heater

Shows the heater icon and live wattage. Manual on/off and power monitoring when on home WiFi.

Skimmer

Skimmer icon and controls. Can be auto-paused during Feed Mode.

Light

Unlocks the on/off schedule editor. Set an on-time and off-time; runs on the outlet 24/7.

Return Pump

Return pump icon and controls. Can be included in Feed Mode to bulk-pause flow.

Other

Generic icon. Use for reactors, UV sterilizers, fans, feeders, or anything else.

✅

Schedules run on the outlet, not the app

Once you save a schedule it lives on the Shelly outlet itself. Your schedules keep running 24/7 even when your phone is off or you're away from home.

Managing an outlet after setup

Tap the gear icon on any outlet card to open Outlet Settings. From there you can:

Rename it

Change the outlet name. Updates everywhere it appears in the app.

Change what it controls

Switch between Doser, Heater, Light, Return Pump, etc. Changes which schedule tools are shown.

Clear Everything on This Outlet

Wipes all schedules off the physical outlet and removes dosing and lighting schedules from the app. The outlet stays connected. Use this to repurpose it.

Remove This Outlet

Removes the outlet from NextUpReef only. The physical plug is untouched and can be re-added any time.

Factory Reset Outlet

Sends a factory reset to the physical plug. Wipes WiFi and all settings. The outlet drops offline and is removed from NextUpReef.

Troubleshooting

Everything in NextUpReef talks to Shelly outlets over your local network. No Shelly app or cloud account needed.

App says outlet is Unreachable

  • Make sure your phone is on the same WiFi as the outlet. Cellular means the app can't reach it.
  • Check the outlet has power and the LED is solid, not blinking. Blinking means setup mode.
  • Confirm the outlet's IP hasn't changed in your router's device list. If it has, remove and re-add it.
  • Some routers block device-to-device traffic (AP isolation). Check your router settings if it never shows Online.

Setup wizard stuck at Step 4

  • Make sure your phone switches back to home WiFi after the outlet reboots.
  • The outlet only supports 2.4GHz WiFi. If you entered 5GHz credentials, go back to Step 3.
  • The outlet may take up to 60 seconds to appear. Tap Start Setup again if timed out.

Dosing history isn't filling in

  • Open the outlet detail, go to Schedule, and tap Save without changing anything. This re-registers the webhook.
  • The outlet needs internet access to call the NextUpReef webhook. Check your home network.
  • Confirm the outlet type is set to Doser. Only doser outlets have webhook-based history logging.

LED blinking / outlet won't join home WiFi

  • Slow blinking white LED means setup mode. WiFi credentials weren't saved. Run the wizard again.
  • If it still fails, hold the button 10 seconds until the LED changes, then unplug and replug.
  • Double-check your WiFi password. The outlet gives no error if wrong -- it just goes back to blinking.

Android 'Set up your device' pop-up

  • Tap 'Not now'. NextUpReef manages this outlet via local API -- no Matter setup needed.
  • NextUpReef disables Matter advertising during setup, but it may briefly appear on first boot.

Frequently asked questions

Do I need the Shelly app?

No. NextUpReef has a built-in setup wizard. You never need to download or open the Shelly app.

Does the outlet work when I'm away from home?

Yes. Schedules run on the outlet itself 24/7, whether your phone is home or not. Live control requires being on the same WiFi.

Does NextUpReef track my dosing history?

Yes. NextUpReef registers a webhook on the outlet when you save a dosing schedule. Every dose is reported back and logged automatically.

Don’t have a Shelly outlet yet?

Pick up a Shelly Plug US Gen4 on Amazon for $24.99 — then add it to NextUpReef in 5 minutes.

Buy on Amazon →

Already have one? Download NextUpReef free — all new accounts get a 30-day Pro trial.

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