PAR Meter??? Seneye or Apolgee?

[Jesmann]

will the Seneye do the trick? they seem 50/50 like almost bad manufacturing and seems like there hit or miss, you could get a good one or could get a dud. i will be using this mostly for led lighting only not for t5s. didnt really want to spend the 500 on a apolgee. has anyone bought the sensor and just hooked it up to a multi-meter?

 

[Coral Reef Keepers]

I bought a Seneye over the holidays when they were on sale just to use it as a par meter. So far, it does the job and does it well. BRS has a video comparing the different PAR meters and the Seneye was always pretty close or spot on the the Apogee's. Their video was the deciding factor for me in getting the Seneye. The Seneye is cheaper and you can achieve almost similar results to the Apogee. In the end the Seneye was a better choice for me to purchase because honestly I won't use it much other than my initial setup and checking for reduction in par from aging T5 bulbs. Worse case scenario, if I feel the Seneye is off I can always rent an Apogee from BRS.

 

[sharpimage]

I recently bought a used seyene. It was a pain to set up, but it may have been an old unit. It didn't seem to sync with windows 7 very well. Anyways after cursing, throwing things around and generally being p.o. it started working on day 2. I tested for a bout a day, then removed it and probably will never use it again. A par meter is something you use for a day and then remove it. I would rent one if I had to do it again.

 

[oreo54]

Need a Win computer/tablet/notebook
SQ-520

 

[jda]

Seneye needs still water and perpendicular light. The Apogee has a cosine corrected sensor and will give you better readings in more normal conditions if you don't have a light rack and lots of acrylic parts like BRS does.

I have used both side by side in a real tank and while the Seneye can get you similar numbers, if it is tilted just a bit, it is unreliable.

 

[Greybeard]

I've got the Apogee SQ520 on it's way, should be here shortly. Plugs into a USB port, download the software, should make it a breeze to do a quick chart of my tank, with my AP700's at 25, 50, and 75%.

I made a deal with my LFS guy. He's giving me back most of what I paid for the thing, in store credit. That way, he pays (in cash, anyway) way less. I would have spent that much with him in the next few months anyway, and he can loan or rent the thing out to his other customers. Good deal all 'round.

 

[lpsouth1978]

I use the Seneye and it is does the job for my needs. I have also had the Apogee in the past with the meter, and have used just the Apogee sensor with a multi-meter. All work well and are accurate enough for my needs.

 

[Conor_K]

I purchased a used seneye as well to use as a par meter and I am very happy with it. I like being able to check things and make tweaks when I want to, but i certainly would not use it enough to warrant the cost of the 520 which is what i would buy if I decided to go that route.
If i have no budget, I would buy the apogee, but in my case, putting the cash i saved with seneye elsewhere made perfect sense.

 

[DarthSimon]

Iv'e had this par meter for 2-3 years now, and never had one single issue with it. Basically hit power button and read....

MQ-210 Underwater Quantum PAR Meter - Apogee

Increased Accuracy for all Underwater Lighting Measurements! Measure and store the PAR (photosynthetically active radiation) readings of your reef tank to ensure the healthy growth of your inhabitants. Handheld meter with large, easy to read LCD display Records reading for review Record...

www.bulkreefsupply.com

 

[Jesmann]

wow thanks for the great response . i want to use it for water clarity aswell, like adding ROX carbon does it actually clear the water and increase par. also testing the same spot year and seeing how much my radions degrade and how much % i need to turn them up will also help me with sps placement i think i could be a very helpful tool

 

[Jesmann]

Iv'e had this par meter for 2-3 years now, and never had one single issue with it. Basically hit power button and read....

MQ-210 Underwater Quantum PAR Meter - Apogee

Increased Accuracy for all Underwater Lighting Measurements! Measure and store the PAR (photosynthetically active radiation) readings of your reef tank to ensure the healthy growth of your inhabitants. Handheld meter with large, easy to read LCD display Records reading for review Record...

www.bulkreefsupply.com

this unit is made for metal haylide and compacts mainly. at least thats what my research has found i had a friend bring a 520 over and the 210 and with just leds on the 210 was far off

 

[siggy]

this unit is made for metal haylide and compacts mainly. at least thats what my research has found i had a friend bring a 520 over and the 210 and with just leds on the 210 was far off

I bought the USB sensor and also borrowed the one that's floating around here. I did a head-to-head test and
came away scratching my HEAD. On average the USB unit came in 20% lower of a reading across the board.
So now I question my Laptop, the Meter, or the sensor.
Take a peek at this set of numbers
With 4 XR15 diffuse Hybrid SQ420 sensor
bottom
98 113 90
92 125 93
132 151 127

mid-level
105 125 109
116 161 125
130 162 131

top
121 231 230 128

Par meter
bottom
115 130 105
113 140 90
151 178 150

mid
123 145 112
151 194 154
160 212 140

top center row
150 284 270 170

 

[Jesmann]

see i just dont know what one to trust

 

[oreo54]

see i just dont know what one to trust

https://www.apogeeinstruments.com/content/SQ-520.pdf

 

[oreo54]

I bought the USB sensor and also borrowed the one that's floating around here. I did a head-to-head test and
came away scratching my HEAD. On average the USB unit came in 20% lower of a reading across the board.
So now I question my Laptop, the Meter, or the sensor.

The SQ-520 sensor has an immersion effect correction factor of 1.32

You did set the software to "immersion" correct?

slight errors of 5-10% wouldn't be hard to get due to placement ect..

 

[siggy]

You did set the software to "immersion" correct?

I did not,;Facepalm I believe I did set sensor type at the beginning. I'll get in it and play around and compare now that I have a record or base line.
Thank You! I thought I wasted $200

 

[oreo54]

I did not,;Facepalm I believe I did set sensor type at the beginning. I'll get in it and play around and compare now that I have a record or base line.
Thank You! I thought I wasted $200

SQ-420 has a smaller correction factor though.. about 10% I believe.
It also isn't as even across the spectrum as the 520 soo there will be a difference..



I assume you don't have the 520..

But we'll see


Li-Cor had a bug .. long story. Ignore it for this vid.

 

[siggy]

I have the 420, I do try to stop myself to a point in this hobby

 

[Matt Carden]

BRS rents the 210 so if you run LED don't waste the money to rent.

 

[leepink23]

I did not,;Facepalm I believe I did set sensor type at the beginning. I'll get in it and play around and compare now that I have a record or base line.
Thank You! I thought I wasted $200

Did setting the immersion fix it for you? Are you happy with the par meter?