Where can I get a par meter? And advice on lighting please!

Jay1982 · 05/28/2009, 01:31 PM

So I have had most of my corals for about 8 months and they have been doing great. I upgraded my tank from a 90 to a 135 and now i'm starting to buy a lot of SPS, and some LPS to add to my existing collection.

I want to start spreading the newly bought corals along the outer edges of the tank but my fixture isn't that long with about 4-5 inches of space on each side (I have a 135 gallon with 1 250W MH with 4 T5s and I don't know if the lighting will be sufficient for coral growth on the edges. Right now i have my sun coral on one side and my fox on the other. I want to start putting my SPSs out on the rock work.

Normally this wouldn't be a problem, I would go out and simply buy a larger fixture. But I don't have the cash right now to dish out 1 grand on a fixture that has 2 MHs and 4 T5s. I looked into the DIY route but it comes out to being almost just as expensive. So I want to be able to see using a par meter if I have enough lighting in certain places to place my more light demanding SPS and LPS on the edge.

shaginwagon13 · 05/28/2009, 01:37 PM

You can buy them here...

http://www.apogee-inst.com/quantummeter_options.htm

But they are pretty expensive so unless you have a friend that has one to borrow or you can find a Hardware store that rents them out I wouldnt buy one.

Take a small frag from an SPS you currently have in your system and place it in the corner of you tank and see what happens. If it grows and keeps its colour then you can get an idea of how strong the light is. If the frag starts to loose color then move it to where your other SPS corals are so it doesnt die and that would tell you that the light isnt strong enough in that location.

Hope this helps

Fizz71 · 05/28/2009, 01:51 PM

+1 on apogee although their prices just jumped significantly thanks to the new model that is out. I'll be borrowing an old one from a friend.

cccapt · 05/28/2009, 02:16 PM

I'll be borrowing an old one from a friend.

So you're next in line? I have it now and it's a nice little tool.

WaterKeeper · 05/28/2009, 02:33 PM

Most quantum meters run around $300, which is down from the $1500 they cost about 10 years ago. I think the right idea has com forth. You don't use one that often so getting a reef club to buy one that is passed around makes a lot of sense. That way it only cost a few bucks per member.

WaterKeeper · 05/28/2009, 02:38 PM

BTW, make sure you get one with a remote sensor as you can't place the meter itself in the tank. Some sold to garden enthusiasts lack remote sensor connections.

Jay1982 · 05/28/2009, 03:13 PM

Thanks everyone, I'll be looking around for one in the Montreal area

05/28/2009, 01:31 PM	#1
Jay1982 Registered Member Join Date: May 2008 Location: Doc Brown's Mansion Posts: 704	Where can I get a par meter? And advice on lighting please! So I have had most of my corals for about 8 months and they have been doing great. I upgraded my tank from a 90 to a 135 and now i'm starting to buy a lot of SPS, and some LPS to add to my existing collection. I want to start spreading the newly bought corals along the outer edges of the tank but my fixture isn't that long with about 4-5 inches of space on each side (I have a 135 gallon with 1 250W MH with 4 T5s and I don't know if the lighting will be sufficient for coral growth on the edges. Right now i have my sun coral on one side and my fox on the other. I want to start putting my SPSs out on the rock work. Normally this wouldn't be a problem, I would go out and simply buy a larger fixture. But I don't have the cash right now to dish out 1 grand on a fixture that has 2 MHs and 4 T5s. I looked into the DIY route but it comes out to being almost just as expensive. So I want to be able to see using a par meter if I have enough lighting in certain places to place my more light demanding SPS and LPS on the edge.

05/28/2009, 01:37 PM	#2
shaginwagon13 Chartered Accountant Join Date: Oct 2007 Location: Toronto, Canada Posts: 2,219	You can buy them here... http://www.apogee-inst.com/quantummeter_options.htm But they are pretty expensive so unless you have a friend that has one to borrow or you can find a Hardware store that rents them out I wouldnt buy one. Take a small frag from an SPS you currently have in your system and place it in the corner of you tank and see what happens. If it grows and keeps its colour then you can get an idea of how strong the light is. If the frag starts to loose color then move it to where your other SPS corals are so it doesnt die and that would tell you that the light isnt strong enough in that location. Hope this helps __________________ - Shaginwagon - Current Tank Info: 550 Gallon SPS Reef l 200 Gallon Sump l Skimmer: Vertex Alpha 250 l Return Pump: Reeflo Hammerhead l Tank Circulation: (2) Maxspect Gyre XF280 l Lighting: (3) 400w Halides & (3) AI Hydra 52 HD

05/28/2009, 01:51 PM	#3
Fizz71 FragSwapper Join Date: Oct 2002 Location: West Lawn, PA Posts: 5,800	+1 on apogee although their prices just jumped significantly thanks to the new model that is out. I'll be borrowing an old one from a friend. __________________ --Fizz Current Tank Info: Current system is 8x2x2 240g peninsula setup with a single "chamber" 100g sump in the basement with an RDSB. All corals are 100% home grown from frags of fellow reefers (low natural reef impact).

05/28/2009, 02:16 PM	#4
cccapt Registered Member Join Date: May 2004 Location: N.E. PA Posts: 842	I'll be borrowing an old one from a friend. So you're next in line? I have it now and it's a nice little tool. __________________ /Larry Current Tank Info: 125 reef

05/28/2009, 02:33 PM	#5
WaterKeeper Bogus Information Expert Join Date: Oct 2000 Location: SW Ohio Posts: 16,147	Most quantum meters run around $300, which is down from the $1500 they cost about 10 years ago. I think the right idea has com forth. You don't use one that often so getting a reef club to buy one that is passed around makes a lot of sense. That way it only cost a few bucks per member. __________________ "Leading the information hungry reefer down the road to starvation" Tom Current Tank Info: 130 Now out of service and a 29

05/28/2009, 02:38 PM	#6
WaterKeeper Bogus Information Expert Join Date: Oct 2000 Location: SW Ohio Posts: 16,147	BTW, make sure you get one with a remote sensor as you can't place the meter itself in the tank. Some sold to garden enthusiasts lack remote sensor connections. __________________ "Leading the information hungry reefer down the road to starvation" Tom Current Tank Info: 130 Now out of service and a 29

05/28/2009, 03:13 PM	#7
Jay1982 Registered Member Join Date: May 2008 Location: Doc Brown's Mansion Posts: 704	Thanks everyone, I'll be looking around for one in the Montreal area __________________ 1.21 Gigawatts?! 1.21 Gigawatts!?! Current Tank Info: 135 reef tank, 50 gallon turtle aquarium, 1.21 Gigawatts?!