I just got a lux meter and have no idea how to set it or read it or use it.... Can someone, using kindergarden language help me <g>. Pic of it.
Dr. Meter Model LX1010b Range 0-100,000 lux
no idea what to set: 2000 or 20000 or 100000. No idea what the "H" mode is (off, on, H)
How do you translate lux into par
Way out of my depth with lighting...
Ugh, I edited the pic and rotated it, looks right but uploads wrong... Sorry
Well assume h is hold (? In honestly am unsure )
You’ll want 100,000.
That’s the max it will go.
That really should be it for the set up.
Just kinda play with it to make sure it’s working.
If your in the living room and it’s day time point the ball at the window. The numbers will go up. Put your hand on it the numbers should zero.
The bathe room with the lights on and a window open will be a low number. Like 1500 or 3000 maybe. Could be in the 100’s.
If you go from there and walk out side and it’s sunny , in so cal , it’s personally 85,000 on the meter if you hild it in your palm tward the sky. Less if it’s cloudy.
So look at the number out side. Take that number and devide by 54.
In the full sun it’s 54. With clouds or in the shade , it changes a bit becuse of the color. But it’s stull kinda close.
85,000 lux would be 1,574 par. In the full sun with no clouds.
Take the unit and hold it close to the waters surface of your tank. Make a stripe long ways over the tank, the numbers on the meter will go up in the middle of the tank , and lower at the end.
Now scan the top of tank. Note the peaks of the numbers , and also the lows and where they are.
Take the peak number (or higher average number) on the meter and and devide it by 60 , if it’s an led.
50 if it’s t5. 55 if it’s both.
An example, 35000 lux devide by 55
Is about 636 par. (With t5and Led )
“About “ it’ll change a little becuse of the color , but not that much.
Devide by 50, 55, 60, and 65 and you’ll see the range.
60 and 65 are the usual led range.
A bad Led can be 70 or higher.
A kitchen fluroescamt Light also can be 70 or higher for the same reason.
It’s a light that won’t grow coral or plants.
Lux is brightness.
Par is good spectrum brightness.
High par will have high lux.
High lux may not have high par.
Becuse of the color.
Btw, about 600 par is a good number for a deep high ligh coral tank.
About 500 is good for a med high
About 400 is a good mixed Ish reef.
About 300 for a low light coral tank.
