Do You Use a Par Meter?

Reefer Matt · Jul 23, 2023

Hey Reefers! With led lights becoming the norm for aquarium lighting, I was wondering who uses a par meter? Since setting up led lights isn't as simple as the "set it and forget it" t5 or mh, I consider a par meter essential equipment when setting up or adjusting led lights. Many rental options are also available now. What do you think?

blaxsun · Jul 23, 2023

I rented one each time I setup a new system to fine-tune my lighting settings, and that's it.

ThaBeast · Jul 23, 2023

I’ve set up my last 2 tanks with a par meter. I have one in the box for the new build too

bushdoc · Jul 23, 2023

One of my LFS offers rental, but I recently purchased one. I have 3 tanks, 120gal, 30 gal and 20 gal frag, so matching PAR is essential. My 120 gal is quite deep, so it was a bit surprise to me to find out how quickly PAR drops with depth.

Bpb · Jul 23, 2023

Bought one. The peace of mind of owning one was worth the price of admission. I got mine on a odd flash sale through premium aquatics for like 40% off.

minus9 · Jul 24, 2023

Yes, and I use PARwise, which I really like. I use halides and LEDs, so it makes it super easy for me to move animals between systems, knowing the spectrum and intensity really makes for a smooth transition.

Lavey29 · Jul 24, 2023

I rented one and was shocked how low the par was from my XR15 lights which now run at 100% intensity.

MartinM · Jul 24, 2023

Reefer Matt said:
Hey Reefers! With led lights becoming the norm for aquarium lighting, I was wondering who uses a par meter? Since setting up led lights isn't as simple as the "set it and forget it" t5 or mh, I consider a par meter essential equipment when setting up or adjusting led lights. Many rental options are also available now. What do you think?

Absolutely essential for LEDs. And they’re cheap. I don’t understand why every reefer doesn’t own one.

EricR · Jul 24, 2023

I rented one (MQ-510) for $20 from a semi-local reefer a while back -- just logged PAR for my current settings along with multiple other levels for future reference.

It'd be nice to own one but I'm not likely to spend the money since I feel like I have all the data I really need from my one-time rental experience.

Salty_Northerner · Jul 24, 2023

MartinM said:
Absolutely essential for LEDs. And they’re cheap. I don’t understand why every reefer doesn’t own one.

What do you consider cheap?

X-37B · Jul 24, 2023

I have spot checked over the years with someone elses.
I now have a ParWise and its a nice unit.
I can now monitor all tanks.
Par was close to what I had figured. I now know where the lower light levels are in my systems. I also know peak spots.
Its a great tool but I did get along quite well without it for 30+, lol.

On my 80 running 4 xr15 blue I added a quanta meso blue bar. This added 100 par across the system.

Nothing about this hobby is cheap and I could not stomach, but could afford, paying almost $600 for the top of the line.

If your in the market for one take a look at the ParWise.

AScientificReefer · Jul 24, 2023

Yessir! your right having a par meter handy is essential. Before I bought mine, my par was just way too low and everything since has been stellar. Its never enough eye ball it with your lighting

Rabidsquirrel · Jul 24, 2023

Reefing_TM_Style said:
What do you consider cheap?

Yeah, I wish I had the budget to say $500 was cheap. I'd buy my meter again in a heartbeat, but it wasn't lightly made decision.

LightingBug · Jul 24, 2023

I bought one a few months ago.
Also have the PMK kit on one tank.

TBH, after I measured the levels in all 3 tanks, I kind of had buyers remorse. $650 for something, and I (thought) I was done with it, left to collect dust until the next time I needed it, which I thought would be a while. I have used it many times as I try different lighting schemes out.

I am semi-retired from 25+ years in the Lighting business, which is the long way to say: "I mess with lighting a lot"

I wish the Apogee (or whichever) had the option for spectral analysis, but it would be a lot more $$$ if it did, and only lighting dorks like me would be interested. I have a Konica light meter that does do spectral so I just use that.
So, that was a long way to say, yes, I see the valus in using (owning) a PAR meter.

Reefer Matt · Jul 24, 2023

Another use for a par meter, btw, is for gardening. If you start seedlings off indoors, use your par meter to find a spot in the shade outside that matches. And then you can adjust from there. It's not about the exact amount of light, but matching what you had, and not baking your plants when hardening off. I grow hot peppers and use my apogee for this.

X-37B · Jul 24, 2023

Screen shot off my phone. The ParWise has a spectral output.

LightingBug · Jul 24, 2023

90's reefer said:
Screen shot off my phone. The ParWise has a spectral output.

Roger that - I have not tried any apps, now I see that Apogee also has an app. I will try that and compare it to my $6k, professionally calibrated Konica and see how they compare. Thanks for this.

exnisstech · Jul 24, 2023

I broke down and bought one a while back. I have to say it's the most valuable tool I own and I own 10s of thousands of dollars in tools from my career as an auto tech. Just the fact that I'm no longer killing clams and wondering why makes it worth the investment to me.

oreo54 · Jul 24, 2023

Not exactly a popular opinion but LEDs really should be checked every year for the 5 + yr lifespan.

Unlike mh and t5 who's lifespan is relatively predictable or just " tossed" on a schedule seeing if the diodes are fading is practically impossible by eyeball.

Now proper designs with quality LEDs shouldn't have this as an issue in under 5 yrs BUT, honesty, there isn't much of a track record to go on here.

If one has a laptop or compatible the USB sensor is cheaper.

SQ-520: Full-Spectrum Smart Quantum Sensor (USB)

The SQ-520 smart full-spectrum quantum sensor can be connected directly to a computer to take spot measurements or graph and log real-time PPFD using the included software.

www.apogeeinstruments.com

Cost of 2 years of bulbs and it still holds some financial value.

That said the new seneye/parwise are even cheaper.

Par Meters & Timers

Bulk Reef Supply - Saltwater Aquarium Supplies for Reef Tanks

www.bulkreefsupply.com

Not completely sold on its absolute accuracy but should be good for relative measurement.
No reason for this feeling though.

X-37B · Jul 24, 2023

oreo54 said:
Not exactly a popular opinion but LEDs really should be checked every year for the 5 + yr lifespan.

Unlike mh and t5 who's lifespan is relatively predictable or just " tossed" on a schedule seeing if the diodes are fading is practically impossible by eyeball.

Now proper designs with quality LEDs shouldn't have this as an issue in under 5 yrs BUT, honesty, there isn't much of a track record to go on here.

If one has a laptop or compatible the USB sensor is cheaper.

SQ-520: Full-Spectrum Smart Quantum Sensor (USB)

The SQ-520 smart full-spectrum quantum sensor can be connected directly to a computer to take spot measurements or graph and log real-time PPFD using the included software.

www.apogeeinstruments.com

Cost of 2 years of bulbs and it still holds some financial value.

That said the new seneye/parwise are even cheaper.

Par Meters & Timers

Bulk Reef Supply - Saltwater Aquarium Supplies for Reef Tanks

www.bulkreefsupply.com

Not completely sold on its absolute accuracy but should be good for relative measurement.
No reason for this feeling though.

Exactly what I plan to do now. I plan to monitor my leds, 3 types, to see how much they change over time.
I have been 11/2 years on full leds.
They perform as well as my old T5 and Halide system, imo.