Recommendations for a PAR meter

[jgirardnrg]

The 520 is for led lights. And they now have the me that works with Bluetooth so you can use your phone and it will log numbers for you.

Correct... I tested both units and the readings were so close to each other that I sent the 520 back. Different color LED's have different accuracy variation between the two sensors but for my purposes in a 24" deep reef tank the difference was small enough that I decided to call the 420 good enough. The 420 comes calibrated for T5's and since I'm probably going be using both LED's and T5's on the 180g I'm setting up soon, I decided to save $200+ and use the 420.

 

[Hydrored]

Good call on the 510, was just using mine

 

[User1]

I believe @Dana Riddle did research on lighting in or around tide pools. I "think" he also did PAR measurements. It was a pretty interesting read although 90% of it goes over my head. Not his fault by any means - all mine .

As much as I love this hobby, diving, and the ocean one would have thought I either A paid more attention in school / college or B took marine biology type classes.

Edit: this is only in regards to the comments about PAR outside

 

[Redfoxtang]

I’m going to need to borrow someone’s par meter!

 

[Dana Riddle]

I believe @Dana Riddle did research on lighting in or around tide pools. I "think" he also did PAR measurements. It was a pretty interesting read although 90% of it goes over my head. Not his fault by any means - all mine .

As much as I love this hobby, diving, and the ocean one would have thought I either A paid more attention in school / college or B took marine biology type classes.

Edit: this is only in regards to the comments about PAR outside

Sure did. These two articles discuss the light/spectral environment of a shallow tide pool and how corals adapt (or not.) The goal was to determine if zooxanthellae adaptive capabilities are infinite - they aren't. There are two more articles on reefs.com.

Light Intensity Requirements of Shallow Tidepool Coral

By Dana Riddle Long time hobbyists will recall the early days of reefkeeping when we were uncertain of the lighting requirements of corals. We assumed th

reefs.com

Spectral Data from a Shallow Hawaiian Tidepool

Dana Riddle previously documented and discussed light intensity of a Hawaiian tidepool versus the home aquarium. Dana continues his light analysis by examining spectral data. What can nature teach us about coral care?

reefs.com

 

[User1]

Sure did. These two articles discuss the light/spectral environment of a shallow tide pool and how corals adapt (or not.) The goal was to determine if zooxanthellae adaptive capabilities are infinite - they aren't. There are two more articles on reefs.com.

Light Intensity Requirements of Shallow Tidepool Coral

By Dana Riddle Long time hobbyists will recall the early days of reefkeeping when we were uncertain of the lighting requirements of corals. We assumed th

reefs.com

Spectral Data from a Shallow Hawaiian Tidepool

Dana Riddle previously documented and discussed light intensity of a Hawaiian tidepool versus the home aquarium. Dana continues his light analysis by examining spectral data. What can nature teach us about coral care?

reefs.com

Thanks!

It may be helpful to the lads using their par meters outside

 

[Shawn_epicurious]

Thanks!

It may be helpful to the lads using their par meters outside

I have enuf to learn just on my tank right now! Lol

 

[Dana Riddle]

Thanks!

It may be helpful to the lads using their par meters outside

Helpful inside too. The article show that zoox in Pocillopora damicornis and Porites lobata's rate of photosynthesis maxes out at about 8:30 am.... So, PAR of 400 or less is all that's needed.

 

[User1]

Helpful inside too. The article show that zoox in Pocillopora damicornis and Porites lobata's rate of photosynthesis maxes out at about 8:30 am.... So, PAR of 400 or less is all that's needed.

Great point.

 

[Shawn_epicurious]

Sure did. These two articles discuss the light/spectral environment of a shallow tide pool and how corals adapt (or not.) The goal was to determine if zooxanthellae adaptive capabilities are infinite - they aren't. There are two more articles on reefs.com.

Light Intensity Requirements of Shallow Tidepool Coral

By Dana Riddle Long time hobbyists will recall the early days of reefkeeping when we were uncertain of the lighting requirements of corals. We assumed th

reefs.com

Spectral Data from a Shallow Hawaiian Tidepool

Dana Riddle previously documented and discussed light intensity of a Hawaiian tidepool versus the home aquarium. Dana continues his light analysis by examining spectral data. What can nature teach us about coral care?

reefs.com

Wow, really nice articles! I won’t lie, most of it was over my head.... I pulled off some learnin’: )

 

[Dana Riddle]

Wow, really nice articles! I won’t lie, most of it was over my head.... I pulled off some learnin’: )

Bottom line - the corals tested didn't need that much light. Coloration was within the scope of these investigations.