Light meter
- Thread starter mtraylor
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William Norman
Active Member
I use my seneye.
William Norman
Active Member
according to BRS the readings are similar to their more expensive par meter. I think there is a video on lighting on the BRS 150 where they mention that.
I have an Apogee 510. IMO, it is the one to get... no need to get a calculator and do correction factors or underwater factors with many others. Also, with the cosine corrected sensor, you don't have to worry about getting 100% perpendicular to the light source (which is impossible anyway).
LiCor is the only meter that is better than this, IMO. However, the Apogee 510 is not the cheapest option.
LiCor is the only meter that is better than this, IMO. However, the Apogee 510 is not the cheapest option.
All of them but the 510 and 210. The 210 does not have the higher range sensor... so it captures less than the 510 does.
I think of it as a lifetime tool - I have been in the hobby since I rode my bicycle to the store in 1992, and will probably be in the hobby until I have to go to a "the home," so a few hundy for a better tool nothing to me.
...only LiCor will probably be $500 soon and then I will need to upgrade.... dang it... poking holes in my own plan!
...only LiCor will probably be $500 soon and then I will need to upgrade.... dang it... poking holes in my own plan!
Dr. Bull
Community Member
I am currently using the APEX PAR module which has worked out well for me up to this point, however it is not very portable and has a limited range due to the cable that needs to connect to the module. I have been eyeing the Apogee 510 for the past few month as a more portable upgrade for my small coral farm since as the farm's footprint begins to expand I can't seem to test everywhere I would like to with the limited cable length of the APEX meter.
Seneye reef. It gives correct readings and doesnt cost arm and a leg. I am of belief that while it is a tool you will use for the life of your tank(s), it is a seldomly used tool once you setup lights initially. I dont know of too many people that get PAR readings every week, every month and even more than once a year (maybe)
Bpb
2500 Club Member
For what it is worth....AB’ing the Seneye meter versus the Apogee 510 yielded about a 60% LOWER reading on average for the seneye. The retailers claim it is close enough. In my own application it was not close at all. I would not recommend one unless you can A/B it against an apogee and verify it’s actually working.
Thats interesting for sure. I watched BRS video where they did comparison of the 2 against Li-Core, and Seneye performed better than 510 for most tests points, other than very wide ones. Not sure why you saw such drastic difference. I dont think BRS had anything to gain from this, so I doubt they would have reported incorrect numbers. Of course, this was with T5s, so perhaps results would be different under LEDs.
Bpb
2500 Club Member
My tests were also under t5 only as well
We all told you why... it is nearly impossible to get the seneye square in the real world without putting in a BRS light rack and stopping all water and fish movement. It matters a lot with the seneye and not at all with a cosine corrected sensor like the Apogee.
...well now you know what a lab test like at BRS does not apply to the real world... and it was not because they used T5s.
