How should we be measuring lights in our tank?

[enveetie]

You should have seen Kessils faces when I pulled out the meter last year.
Very nice folks btw.

i would love some context/story regarding what happened.

 

[saltyfilmfolks]

i would love some context/story regarding what happened.

They have a contiversial response to par intensity etc. and some folks do confront them about it. I pulled out my handheld and starred metering the tank. The folks working the booth are generally just working folks. So for them it was. 50/50 if I'd ask good questions or not be nice. So no, they weren't happy at the prospect of a complainer.
But I Just asked good questions, didn't talk par or lux. Or asked. Just had them show me how it all worked and the color ranges as data etc and even helped me me run it through while I metered it. They were totally cool and relived. They invited me in to look at all the rest of the stuff and hang out, but I literally had to leave them go see Dana riddle speak. And then it was lectures all the rest of the day.

 

[imustbenuts]

Have you been able to compare with an Apogee or other calibrated meter to see how close you are?

I have not. I felt the video gave a good enough comparison with actual par meters. The reason I haven't compared myself is the same reason I built my own. I don't know anyone in the San Diego area with a par meter.

 

[TbyZ]

I use a Milwakee MW700.

Can i ask how you use your lux meter, eg. do you measure below surface ..... what lux numbers do you aim for?

 

[mcarroll]

I have not. I felt the video gave a good enough comparison with actual par meters. The reason I haven't compared myself is the same reason I built my own. I don't know anyone in the San Diego area with a par meter.

As long as you can use it and get repeatable results, that's the main thing anyway. You're not trying to run calculations against the numbers you get or anything fancy.

 

[david.faik]

What's pur ?
So the seneye is good for figuring out my lights output yeah ?
I read it's hard to do it because you have to hold the seneye steady underwater by hand to get accurate readings ?

I have one, it’s not that hard but you may need to take three snapshots. The units are not that expensive plus no worries holding them under water.

Would like to get links to max and min PAR values

 

[klp]

For those that want a submersible LUX meter
http://www.milwaukeeinst.com/site/c...roducts-g-standard-portable-meters-g-mw700-wp

 

[TL Reefs]

Here's my Lux Meter. It was free. And it is submersible. Most everybody here has it, but your version may not be waterproof.
It may not be good for comparing tanks or lights online (since it's only using the light sensor on my phone, and each phone's light sensor will measure it differently). But it works great to know what the intensity is throughout my own tanks, and make adjustments to where I place my corals.