Which Apogee Instruments PAR Meter?

nickkohrn · Mar 23, 2020

I currently have a Seneye that I use solely for measuring PAR, but I am looking to purchase an Apogee Instruments meter to replace the Seneye because I no longer want to connect a meter to my computer. So, I am trying to decide between the MQ-210 and the MQ-510. I use only T5s, so I don't need the capability to measure LEDs, but it may be nice to have if I decide to supplement my T5s with LEDs in the future. However, if I do add LEDs, then they will be for evening viewing only. I did notice @Dana Riddle's recent post regarding a new sensor from Apogee Instruments, which is the SQ-620, so I am interested to see if that would be a better option or simply unnecessary.

What do you think would be the best instrument, out of the meters mentioned above, for measuring PAR in my aquarium?

If it helps, I currently use three ATI Blue Plus bulbs and three ATI Coral Plus bulbs in my six-bulb ATI Sunpower, and that's likely what I will use for a few years since I have plenty of replacement bulbs in storage.

Dana Riddle · Mar 23, 2020

nickkohrn said:
I currently have a Seneye that I use solely for measuring PAR, but I am looking to purchase an Apogee Instruments meter to replace the Seneye because I no longer want to connect a meter to my computer. So, I am trying to decide between the MQ-210 and the MQ-510. I use only T5s, so I don't need the capability to measure LEDs, but it may be nice to have if I decide to supplement my T5s with LEDs in the future. However, if I do add LEDs, then they will be for evening viewing only. I did notice @Dana Riddle's recent post regarding a new sensor from Apogee Instruments, which is the SQ-620, so I am interested to see if that would be a better option or simply unnecessary.

What do you think would be the best instrument, out of the meters mentioned above, for measuring PAR in my aquarium?

If it helps, I currently use three ATI Blue Plus bulbs and three ATI Coral Plus bulbs in my six-bulb ATI Sunpower, and that's likely what I will use for a few years since I have plenty of replacement bulbs in storage.

For the money, you can't do better than the MQ-510 with full-spectrum sensor. The SQ-620 is for LEDs only, due to the sensor's spectral response.

nickkohrn · Mar 23, 2020

Dana Riddle said:
For the money, you can't do better than the MQ-510 with full-spectrum sensor. The SQ-620 is for LEDs only, due to the sensor's spectral response.

Thanks, Dana! I was leaning toward the MQ-510, and your response validated my thoughts. Also, it would have helped for me to thoroughly read the information about the SQ-620, which I only skimmed.

enb141 · Jun 7, 2023

Dana Riddle said:
For the money, you can't do better than the MQ-510 with full-spectrum sensor. The SQ-620 is for LEDs only, due to the sensor's spectral response.

If I'm only using LEDs, then the SQ-620 is the way to go?

oreo54 · Jun 7, 2023

enb141 said:
If I'm only using LEDs, then the SQ-620 is the way to go?

I believe Dana was referring to the fact the 620 sensor sensitivity reaches far into the IR.
Thus bulbs like metal halides will record as par a lot of " not par".
Same with sunlight I guess.
Does seem to have a bit more reach in the uv as well.

Since the detector on this particular Extended Range sensor is sensitive to radiation with wavelengths up to 1100 nm, beyond the range of wavelengths that influence plants, we recommend only using the SQ-620 series sensors in indoor grow environments utilizing LED lights.

Not sure that extended reach into IR or that but in UV actually is much of an improvement over the 510 sensor

The e-par sensor looks better.

enb141 · Jun 7, 2023

So the SQ-620 is a better choice than the SQ-520?

It's gonna show more par so we are gonna need to increase our lights intensity by what 50-100 more PAR?

oreo54 · Jun 7, 2023

enb141 said:
So the SQ-620 is a better choice than the SQ-520?

It's gonna show more par so we are gonna need to increase our lights intensity by what 50-100 more PAR?

"620" is retired....