PAR Meter Rent vs buy

[Eggpaul]

Hello, I noticed a nice sale on the SQ-520 on BRS, and I am wondering if I should get it or just choose the rental option? Basically with the Wand it will be $350 vs $50 rent.

Anyone with a PAR Meter, how many times a week/month do you use it?

I have 3 Kessil A360, and I'm thinking if I do rent, I can make all the measurements, and in the future if I increase or decrease by the 5% increments, I would know what the PAR is in all those same areas I measured. Would that make sense?

 

[Sailingeric]

I would rent.. Once you get your lights dialed in you won't need it. If you have LEDs and can adjust the power you can try different settings and note those for future use if you need to go up or down.

 

[Eggpaul]

I would rent.. Once you get your lights dialed in you won't need it. If you have LEDs and can adjust the power you can try different settings and note those for future use if you need to go up or down.

Great point, thank you!

 

[jpas]

The SQ520 is just a sensor with a USB connection. It is a pretty good deal, however I think it would end up sitting in your toolbox once you have your lights setup. I just rented the 510, and it was brand new, I guess I was the first one to get this unit. It works great and provided good info on getting my ATI powermodules setup.

 

[Eggpaul]

The SQ520 is just a sensor with a USB connection. It is a pretty good deal, however I think it would end up sitting in your toolbox once you have your lights setup. I just rented the 510, and it was brand new, I guess I was the first one to get this unit. It works great and provided good info on getting my ATI powermodules setup.

That's what BRS has available to rent. Did you like it? did you measure with pumps on or off?

 

[Scurvy]

Renting is a great choice and what I voted however if you're the type that sets up and breaks down tanks often then buying might make sense too.

 

[jpas]

It works great. I turned off the wave maker pumps but left my return pump running. I was very pleased with the readings, I'm running two ATI Powermodules (8x54w with three 75w LED pucks) and at the surface (1" under) the avg reading is around 800 to 900 at the bottom (30") it is 250 to 310. This is with the T5's at 100% and the LEDs on partially (100% blues, 65% white, 0% red). The tank is 36" front to back and I have my lights as high as I can get them, which is 13" above the water, so I was concerned with the front-to-back spread. At the top of the tank (less than 4" deep) there is a drop off at the front and back glass, from 800 to around 500, however at the bottom the spread is really even. I have tall rock structures which create some shadowing for corals that like lower light.

 

[mta_morrow]

I purchased the Seneye.

My rationale: setting up a new tank. Baseline.

20 rock moves, 3 rescapes later - what’s the par in THAT spot?

 

[Devaji]

great question...
I am thinking the same but as @mta_morrow said I thinking of seneye vs renting.
once you get it dialed in you prob not gonna mess with it much.

better yet if you have a few reefing buddies or club maybe you can all go in on one then then share it.
let us know what you decide.

 

[Eggpaul]

great question...
I am thinking the same but as @mta_morrow said I thinking of seneye vs renting.
once you get it dialed in you prob not gonna mess with it much.

better yet if you have a few reefing buddies or club maybe you can all go in on one then then share it.
let us know what you decide.

I live near Pasadena, CA and the closest reef club I know of is in Orange county. I decided to rent one from BRS. I will spend a few hours measuring everything, and can even increase my LED's and note for the future if needed. I think that will be more than enough.