Using PAR meters?

[LordJoshaeus]

Hello everyone! I just purchased an aquarium PAR meter online and was wondering how straightforward it is to use one. Anything I should know before using it the first time? Thank you

 

[shakacuz]

pretty much plug-n-play. which did you get? perhaps searching youtube for a video or review video will help show how to use that specific brand

 

[LordJoshaeus]

pretty much plug-n-play. which did you get? perhaps searching youtube for a video or review video will help show how to use that specific brand

I will try to do that. It is a brand called Danoplus...new in box;

 

[shakacuz]

I will try to do that. It is a brand called Danoplus...new in box;

never heard of the brand. not even here on r2r

 

[LordJoshaeus]

never heard of the brand. not even here on r2r

I was able to find a website for this brand...having trouble finding a page for this specific product, though (they did have a page for a different PAR meter).

 

[hounddog01]

What were your thoughts on the meter? What were your readings? I just got one too.

 

[LordJoshaeus]

What were your thoughts on the meter? What were your readings? I just got one too.

It seems to work well, though I will say I don't have another PAR meter to test it against. My reef jars were at the 50's and 60's at the substrate, so I moved the light lower and had PAR jump into the 130's.

 

[disaster999]

I would highly suggest you to either borrow or rent a quality par meter, one proven to accurately measure par numbers in reef aquariums and compare to the one youve bought to see how accurate or close it actually is. Right now you have nothing to reference and is blindly trusting the numbers it indicates.

 

[LordJoshaeus]

I would highly suggest you to either borrow or rent a quality par meter, one proven to accurately measure par numbers in reef aquariums and compare to the one youve bought to see how accurate or close it actually is. Right now you have nothing to reference and is blindly trusting the numbers it indicates.

Fair. I will do that before adding corals...the light is currently off most of the time to avoid triggering an algaefest in a new setup.

 

[Scott Edward Matheney]

Please keep us posted if/when you compare to more well known brands for accuracy! I am also interested in buying this one soon. Thanks!

 

[KrisReef]

Fair. I will do that before adding corals...the light is currently off most of the time to avoid triggering an algaefest in a new setup.

Where are you located? Maybe someone close by can help with the comparison.

 

[LordJoshaeus]

Where are you located? Maybe someone close by can help with the comparison.

New England. I am very apprehensive about renting a PAR meter, honestly...the one site I found required a 500 dollar deposit to rent a PAR meter, and I am very afraid they would find something teeny tiny bit wrong about the returned PAR meter and not return that very large deposit.

EDIT; I was browsing Amazon's reviews of this product, and two different people compared this PAR meter with Apogee. Alas! It isn't very helpful...one person found the results very similar and the other found an 80-100 umol difference between this meter and an Apogee. Drat

 

[KrisReef]

New England. I am very apprehensive about renting a PAR meter, honestly...the one site I found required a 500 dollar deposit to rent a PAR meter, and I am very afraid they would find something teeny tiny bit wrong about the returned PAR meter and not return that very large deposit.

BRS, buy one new, return it for refund -$100.00. They had this offer listed on the site recently.

 

[jeffmr4]

Sometimes reef clubs will have one that members can borrow. Where I live a membership to the reef society costs $20.

 

[braaap]

New England. I am very apprehensive about renting a PAR meter, honestly...the one site I found required a 500 dollar deposit to rent a PAR meter, and I am very afraid they would find something teeny tiny bit wrong about the returned PAR meter and not return that very large deposit.

EDIT; I was browsing Amazon's reviews of this product, and somebody compared this PAR meter with Apogee. Alas! It's significantly off...drat

They do that so if you keep it then it covers the cost. I have one I’ll rent you. $350 deposit. You cover shipping both ways. You send it back in one month I refund you $300. Sq-520 with wand. Needs to be plugged into a computer but it’s the best meter for LEDs.

 

[Waters]

Based on the cost alone I would be kinda skeptical.

 

[VintageReefer]

You can buy an apogee sq420 for $250 and have a quality meter

 

[aumwantanai]

They do that so if you keep it then it covers the cost. I have one I’ll rent you. $350 deposit. You cover shipping both ways. You send it back in one month I refund you $300. Sq-520 with wand. Needs to be plugged into a computer but it’s the best meter for LEDs.

Which brand is yours?

 

[VintageReefer]

Which brand is yours?

Braaap and I both have apogee

 

[braaap]

Which brand is yours

Apogee sq-520