First time using par meter, question?

[Grahamstyle77]

So recently upgraded from a 4 bulb t5 to an aquatic life t5 hybrid with a radion xr15 over a 50g cube. Way more light at my finger tips so got a par meter to set it up for the best coral health.

My question though is when using the par meter should I do it with the full pumps on, tank running like normal or turn pumps off? I would imagine surface agitation changes numbers and think with the tank running as usual that would give me the most true numbers, but is my thinking correct?

Also, any other helpful hints from people that have used these meters before?

Thanks all!

 

[csb123]

Watching

 

[jda]

Which meter is it? It matters. Apogee with a cosine corrected sensor does not need as much babying to get correct numbers like the SenEye does. In either case, you can turn off all of the flow pumps and make sure that you get the sensor perfectly perpendicular to the lights.

Then, make sure that you PAR meter does not need any correction factors for being submerged or for software error.

 

[Grahamstyle77]

Good question, I didn't put such meter in my original message. It's an apogee meter.

 

[jda]

Even the kid of Apogee maters. Some need a 1.32 correction factor for being submerged. Some do not need any. Some need a 1.06. Which one is it?

 

[saltyfilmfolks]

I test my par with everything on.

 

[Cali-Saltwater-1st-Timer]

Which meter is it? It matters. Apogee with a cosine corrected sensor does not need as much babying to get correct numbers like the SenEye does. In either case, you can turn off all of the flow pumps and make sure that you get the sensor perfectly perpendicular to the lights.

Then, make sure that you PAR meter does not need any correction factors for being submerged or for software error.

Why would you turn off all your flow pumps? This isn't an accurate account of how your tank would be running under normal usage. You don't run the tank with pumps off. Wouldn't this give false readings?

 

[jda]

You gotta turn them off with the Seneye since the sensor cannot handle the light coming in at any kind of angle. Other light meters can handle this.

 

[Cali-Saltwater-1st-Timer]

You gotta turn them off with the Seneye since the sensor cannot handle the light coming in at any kind of angle. Other light meters can handle this.

Ah, got it.

 

[Rpc07]

My apogee 210 is in the mail, following along.

 

[saltyfilmfolks]

You gotta turn them off with the Seneye since the sensor cannot handle the light coming in at any kind of angle. Other light meters can handle this.

The seneye isn’t that wonky really.
Co-sign is better but....

IMO flow on or off. Doesn’t matter. Is light is refracted by a wave at the top you’ll see it on the meter.