Affordable Par Meter?

[Treenk]

Is there such thing as an affordable par meter? 600 bucks seems crazy high for something I'll only use here and there.

 

[amsterdam_reefer]

Seneye has a par meter also an ph and ammonia meter i think its aroind 200-300

 

[sublime275]

Seneye has a par meter also an ph and ammonia meter i think its aroind 200-300

I second this. I have one and just use it for the par meter.

 

[vtecintegra]

What about the apogee usb version? Under $250. If you don't mind using it with a laptop.

 

[Coxey81]

Is there such thing as an affordable par meter? 600 bucks seems crazy high for something I'll only use here and there.

I've heard some LFS rent them, but I haven't asked mine yet.

 

[jeffww]

A used one. Just need to keep an eye open. I got an apogee sq520 for 300.

 

[X-37B]

Their is nothing really affordable in this hobby, lol.
That said BRS rents them.

 

[Bj’s Reef]

Aquarium Speciality rents them as well.

 

[mfinn]

What about the apogee usb version? Under $250. If you don't mind using it with a laptop.

I know this is a older post, but which model is this? Will it work with leds?

 

[mfinn]

Seneye has a par meter also an ph and ammonia meter i think its aroind 200-300

Are you refering to the Seneye Reef Monitor?
Does it work underwater? I see it at BRS for $220.

 

[LeftyReefer]

Are you refering to the Seneye Reef Monitor?
Does it work underwater? I see it at BRS for $220.

yes, and yes, it works underwater.

 

[mfinn]

yes, and yes, it works underwater.

I guess I should have asked if it was meant for leds?

 

[mojo8427]

Are you refering to the Seneye Reef Monitor?
Does it work underwater? I see it at BRS for $220.

Make sure you read the reviews. Apparently they were registering wildly inaccurate PAR readings and if memory serves, they knew it was broke when they sold them and refused to honor warranties.

Might be worth considering.

USB Smart Quantum SQ-420X PAR Sensor

PAR (photosynthetic active radiation) is the easiest way to measure the available light for corals consume and use for photosynthesis. With LED lights giving more and more control to the consumer the best thing is a PAR meter that is affordable and simple to use. With PAR readings you can...

www.bulkreefsupply.com

 

[vtecintegra]

I know this is a older post, but which model is this? Will it work with leds?

Either SQ-420 or SQ-420x. SQ-420 was replaced with the SQ-420x in the summer (they physically look the same to me). The response curve looks way more accurate on the SQ-420. I was going to buy a 420, but they are out of stock almost everywhere. The next option is the SQ-520, but it's around $200 more. Curve is a lot flatter and supposedly better with LEDs. The 420 worked because it read slightly higher in the higher wave lengths and slightly lower in the deeper blues. So if you measured with somewhat of a full spectrum or white mixed in, it balanced out, and gave a reading close to the more expensive SQ-520. The curve on the 420x looks way out of wack, and probably needs a big correction to get an accurate reading with LEDs. Check out Apogees website.

I wouldn't expect the SQ-420 to come back in stock at BRS or anywhere else since it was discontinued almost six months ago. The SQ-420x should start to show up after the supply problems subside.

 

[mfinn]

Either SQ-420 or SQ-420x. SQ-420 was replaced with the SQ-420x in the summer (they physically look the same to me). The response curve looks way more accurate on the SQ-420. I was going to buy a 420, but they are out of stock almost everywhere. The next option is the SQ-520, but it's around $200 more. Curve is a lot flatter and supposedly better with LEDs. The 420 worked because it read slightly higher in the higher wave lengths and slightly lower in the deeper blues. So if you measured with somewhat of a full spectrum or white mixed in, it balanced out, and gave a reading close to the more expensive SQ-520. The curve on the 420x looks way out of wack, and probably needs a big correction to get an accurate reading with LEDs. Check out Apogees website.

I wouldn't expect the SQ-420 to come back in stock at BRS or anywhere else since it was discontinued almost six months ago. The SQ-420x should start to show up after the supply problems subside.

Amazon has the SQ-420 for $245

 

[Harold999]

Make sure you read the reviews. Apparently they were registering wildly inaccurate PAR readings and if memory serves, they knew it was broke when they sold them and refused to honor warranties.

Nothing wrong with the Seneye. A while ago there was a bug in the firmware of the V4 version (the one you're buying now is V6) which showed par readings twice as high, but that was solved with a recent firmware update.

 

[JNalley]

Nothing wrong with the Seneye. A while ago there was a bug in the firmware of the V4 version (the one you're buying now is V6) which showed par readings twice as high, but that was solved with a recent firmware update.

If I understand the Seneye correctly, I need it attached to a laptop at all times or to one of it's webservers at all times in order to interact with it/get alerts/whatever?

 

[vtecintegra]

Amazon has the SQ-420 for $245

Saw that. They are charging more for a product that was discontinued six months ago, than when it was in production. I was going to grab one at $198 for black Friday on BRS, but they sold out.

 

[RSnodgrass]

The most affordable PAR meter is the one in your buddy's fish room.

 

[Harold999]

If I understand the Seneye correctly, I need it attached to a laptop at all times or to one of it's webservers at all times in order to interact with it/get alerts/whatever?

For 24/7 monitoring temp/ammonia/ph you need some kind of client (the Seneye webserver, or a Windows tablet/pc/laptop) with internet connection.
If you're only doing par readings once then a laptop/pc/Windows tablet is sufficient, no internet connection necessary. Altough you need to download the software first.