PAR Readings

[misoldier06]

Simple question, Should PAR readings be taken with or without flow in regards to coral placement?

 

[Sshannon]

I would say with flow would be chasing a range of numbers, and harder to get an accurate read, although I would prefer to know the par with flow anyway.

 

[jda]

The meter will bounce all around with flow... so you kinda just have to "pick" a number in this wider range. Without flow, you still will get some bounce, but the range will be MUCH smaller. I would turn the flow off.

Also, a cosine corrected sensor will be more resistant to flow whereas a non-cosine corrected sensor could be off by quite a bit.

 

[User1]

I'll say first that I have no idea what is the proper way so will leave that to others with better knowledge. However, when I used my Seneye recently I left the flow on. My reason being was that is how the tank is run, that is how the corals will see it, etc. I'll be doing some more tests later and will do measurements with and without just to compare as well as out of the tank under lighting in clean air.

 

[Porpoise Hork]

Just be sure to check if your meter needs the correction. Some of the Apogee units require you to multiply the current reading by 1.32 to get the correct PAR reading.