PAR Meter Findings

demariners · 04/29/2012, 04:18 PM

So I have seen a lot of posts about this but I don't seem to be getting anywhere. Most of the posts are also very old. Where can I get a PAR meter? They seem pretty expensive for a one time use? I see Milwuakee sells a $75 LUX meter. I am not familiar with this and if it measures the same thing. Any suggestions or help would be appreciated.

alton · 04/30/2012, 06:16 AM

http://www.aquariumspecialty.com/tes...-200-par-meter

I use a regular foot candle/lux meter to check when my lamps start to drop off so I know when t change them out. I have saved a bunch a money and corals versus changing them every year. In the past 9 years using it I have lamps go as long as 18 months or sometimes as little as 8 months. So as you can see it is not a one time use

demariners · 04/30/2012, 07:18 AM

Yes but don't you change bulbs because the spectrum changes over time? Does this meter measure that also?

alton · 04/30/2012, 11:53 AM

I have 2 Radium lamps that are 14 months old with a third that is two months, I would bet anyone who can pick out the newer lamp. Yes it is better to have the $400 PAR meter but for me the $100 meter has worked well since I have not lost any corals. Example: at my waters surface I get 2600 foot candles, when one of my lamps drop 10% I change the lamp out, after 12 months one lamp dropped down to 2400 foot candles so I changed it out, the remaining two are still at 2500 foot candles after 14 months. Corals are doing great under all three lamps.

GeorgeMonnatJr · 04/30/2012, 12:19 PM

You can buy just the sensor from Apogee and use any digital multimeter (DMM) that reads millivolts (mV). I bought an Apogee SQ-110 sensor (click on "Order Sensors" on left) for $139 and a Fluke 113 DMM for $95 for a total of about $235. And I have a DMM that I can use to test for stray voltage or anything else I need.

You can get DMMs at Home Depot, Lowe's, etc. that will work for around $60.

You just get a banana plug adapter, wire in your sensor, read the PAR on the DMM and multiply by 5 for the PAR value. Works great.

demariners · 04/30/2012, 12:30 PM

I have a voltmeter here at home. On your DMM what setting do you have it set for. I am not familiar with how they work so i want to make sure I read the correct reading.

GeorgeMonnatJr · 04/30/2012, 12:55 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by demariners

I have a voltmeter here at home. On your DMM what setting do you have it set for. I am not familiar with how they work so i want to make sure I read the correct reading.

If it can read millivolts, or mV or 0.001 V, then it'll work for you. You just need a sensor (borrow or buy).

You just multiply the mV reading (or thousandths of a volt) by 5. The gain on the Apogee SQ-110 is 5.00 µmol m-2 s-1 per mV, so if you get a mV reading of 20mV (0.020 V) that's 100 PAR.

demariners · 04/30/2012, 12:59 PM

Nice, I will take a picture of it and upload it. Maybe you can show me the setting. This is GREAT advice. Thank you.

GeorgeMonnatJr · 04/30/2012, 01:01 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by demariners

Nice, I will take a picture of it and upload it. Maybe you can show me the setting. This is GREAT advice. Thank you.

If your voltmeter doesn't read mV, you can always borrow one (I usually do from work

).

demariners · 04/30/2012, 06:24 PM

Here it is. What would I set this to?

GeorgeMonnatJr · 04/30/2012, 08:30 PM

You can try hooking up the black probe to COM (black socket) and the red probe to VOmega (red socket) and setting the dial to 2V DC (on the left). If it reads thousandths of volts (millivolts), such as 0.003 V, then you can use it. If it only has 2 digits after the decimal, such as 0.03 V, then you can't use it. Well, you could use it for very rough numbers but nothing accurate.

demariners · 04/30/2012, 08:50 PM

It does do .000 so it will work perfect! What PAR readings am I looking for?

demariners · 04/30/2012, 08:51 PM

Also, on the apogee site there is a bunch of options?

Any idea what these are for?

Electric, Sun, +2.5, +5v??? Thanks

kc350twin · 04/30/2012, 09:30 PM

I have the sensor and a cheap meter as well. It's a little off compared to my Fluke at work but close enough. It's a $20 Cornwell tool unit. I called Apogee and they are more then happy to sell you the sensor to save a little money. Great company to deal with in my opinion.

demariners · 04/30/2012, 09:31 PM

Did they give you a break in the price? I will probably get one but what PAR readings am I looking for? I was going to get a EcoTech Radion and I want to make sure I don't "burn" my corals.

GeorgeMonnatJr · 04/30/2012, 09:32 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by demariners

It does do .000 so it will work perfect! What PAR readings am I looking for?

sirreal63 posted a good chart:

Quote:

Originally Posted by sirreal63

This should help as a rough guide.

So take the 0.0xx mV reading, multiply it by 5 to get the µmol m-2 s-1 ("µmol*m2*sec" on the chart) then compare it to the chart.

What kind of lights do you have?

GeorgeMonnatJr · 04/30/2012, 09:34 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by demariners

Also, on the apogee site there is a bunch of options?

Any idea what these are for?

Electric, Sun, +2.5, +5v??? Thanks

I'm using an Apogee SQ-110 sensor (click on "Order Sensors" on left) which has a gain of 5 - that's why I say multiply the reading by 5.

demariners · 04/30/2012, 09:37 PM

Terrific! So I assume these levels are at where the animal is? I know a silly question but I have never used a light meter before.

demariners · 04/30/2012, 09:38 PM

Can corals/SPS...etc... take a LOT of light. Or should I dim it down if it is too much?

kc350twin · 04/30/2012, 09:43 PM

Do you currently have a light other then the Radion? If so match the current light then minus about 20% due to the blue LEDs. The Apogee light sensor won't read blue led's completely. It can be low by up to 15-20%.

jerpa · 04/30/2012, 09:43 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by demariners

Can corals/SPS...etc... take a LOT of light. Or should I dim it down if it is too much?

Most corals can be acclimated to more light but you want to do that slowly and watch for signs of stress.

demariners · 04/30/2012, 09:46 PM

Well I currently have panaroma pro led and I wanted a log meter because ,y clams died. I assume it was ecause the light output is not enough. That is why I am going to return the panaroma and get a radon? Unless you think otherwise.... That's my plan....

GeorgeMonnatJr · 04/30/2012, 10:02 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by kc350twin

Do you currently have a light other then the Radion? If so match the current light then minus about 20% due to the blue LEDs. The Apogee light sensor won't read blue led's completely. It can be low by up to 15-20%.

+1, PAR/quantum meters (and LUX meters) are silicon-based detectors and only pick up about 80% of the blue. The vast majority of white LEDs are actually blue LEDs with a coating to make them look white (blue-driven white LEDs).

If you have LEDs, then multiply your mV reading * 5 for the sensor then * 1.2 to adjust for LEDs.

So if the meter read 14 mV (or 0.014 V), that would be 84 PAR. (14 * 5 * 1.2 = 84)

demariners · 04/30/2012, 10:04 PM

Jthanks for all your help. Now I have to decide whether to get LED or MH.

GeorgeMonnatJr · 04/30/2012, 10:24 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by demariners

Jthanks for all your help. Now I have to decide whether to get LED or MH.

I like and prefer LEDs, but then again I'm an Optoelectronic Engineer

Here's a good article with a lot of info to help you decide (yes, he's trying to sell stuff, but his info is solid):

http://www.americanaquariumproducts...._Lighting.html

04/29/2012, 04:18 PM	#1
demariners Work In Progress Join Date: Aug 2005 Location: Arizona Posts: 972	PAR Meter Findings So I have seen a lot of posts about this but I don't seem to be getting anywhere. Most of the posts are also very old. Where can I get a PAR meter? They seem pretty expensive for a one time use? I see Milwuakee sells a $75 LUX meter. I am not familiar with this and if it measures the same thing. Any suggestions or help would be appreciated.

04/30/2012, 09:30 PM	#14
kc350twin Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2008 Location: Severn, MD Posts: 1,579	I have the sensor and a cheap meter as well. It's a little off compared to my Fluke at work but close enough. It's a $20 Cornwell tool unit. I called Apogee and they are more then happy to sell you the sensor to save a little money. Great company to deal with in my opinion. __________________ 112g Cube 36x36x20= Custom 12x39wPower Module (Par Monster)= Neptune Apex=ATB 840v2=BM Doser= 2 MP-40's

04/30/2012, 09:43 PM	#20
kc350twin Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2008 Location: Severn, MD Posts: 1,579	Do you currently have a light other then the Radion? If so match the current light then minus about 20% due to the blue LEDs. The Apogee light sensor won't read blue led's completely. It can be low by up to 15-20%. __________________ 112g Cube 36x36x20= Custom 12x39wPower Module (Par Monster)= Neptune Apex=ATB 840v2=BM Doser= 2 MP-40's

04/30/2012, 06:16 AM	#2
alton Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2005 Location: Zuehl, Texas Posts: 4,460	http://www.aquariumspecialty.com/tes...-200-par-meter I use a regular foot candle/lux meter to check when my lamps start to drop off so I know when t change them out. I have saved a bunch a money and corals versus changing them every year. In the past 9 years using it I have lamps go as long as 18 months or sometimes as little as 8 months. So as you can see it is not a one time use

04/30/2012, 07:18 AM	#3
demariners Work In Progress Join Date: Aug 2005 Location: Arizona Posts: 972	Yes but don't you change bulbs because the spectrum changes over time? Does this meter measure that also?

04/30/2012, 11:53 AM	#4
alton Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2005 Location: Zuehl, Texas Posts: 4,460	I have 2 Radium lamps that are 14 months old with a third that is two months, I would bet anyone who can pick out the newer lamp. Yes it is better to have the $400 PAR meter but for me the $100 meter has worked well since I have not lost any corals. Example: at my waters surface I get 2600 foot candles, when one of my lamps drop 10% I change the lamp out, after 12 months one lamp dropped down to 2400 foot candles so I changed it out, the remaining two are still at 2500 foot candles after 14 months. Corals are doing great under all three lamps.

04/30/2012, 12:19 PM	#5
GeorgeMonnatJr Registered Member Join Date: Mar 2012 Location: Austin, TX Posts: 281 Blog Entries: 3	You can buy just the sensor from Apogee and use any digital multimeter (DMM) that reads millivolts (mV). I bought an Apogee SQ-110 sensor (click on "Order Sensors" on left) for $139 and a Fluke 113 DMM for $95 for a total of about $235. And I have a DMM that I can use to test for stray voltage or anything else I need. You can get DMMs at Home Depot, Lowe's, etc. that will work for around $60. You just get a banana plug adapter, wire in your sensor, read the PAR on the DMM and multiply by 5 for the PAR value. Works great.

04/30/2012, 12:30 PM	#6
demariners Work In Progress Join Date: Aug 2005 Location: Arizona Posts: 972	I have a voltmeter here at home. On your DMM what setting do you have it set for. I am not familiar with how they work so i want to make sure I read the correct reading.

04/30/2012, 12:59 PM	#8
demariners Work In Progress Join Date: Aug 2005 Location: Arizona Posts: 972	Nice, I will take a picture of it and upload it. Maybe you can show me the setting. This is GREAT advice. Thank you.

04/30/2012, 08:30 PM	#11
GeorgeMonnatJr Registered Member Join Date: Mar 2012 Location: Austin, TX Posts: 281 Blog Entries: 3	You can try hooking up the black probe to COM (black socket) and the red probe to VOmega (red socket) and setting the dial to 2V DC (on the left). If it reads thousandths of volts (millivolts), such as 0.003 V, then you can use it. If it only has 2 digits after the decimal, such as 0.03 V, then you can't use it. Well, you could use it for very rough numbers but nothing accurate.

04/30/2012, 08:50 PM	#12
demariners Work In Progress Join Date: Aug 2005 Location: Arizona Posts: 972	It does do .000 so it will work perfect! What PAR readings am I looking for?

04/30/2012, 08:51 PM	#13
demariners Work In Progress Join Date: Aug 2005 Location: Arizona Posts: 972	Also, on the apogee site there is a bunch of options? Any idea what these are for? Electric, Sun, +2.5, +5v??? Thanks

04/30/2012, 09:31 PM	#15
demariners Work In Progress Join Date: Aug 2005 Location: Arizona Posts: 972	Did they give you a break in the price? I will probably get one but what PAR readings am I looking for? I was going to get a EcoTech Radion and I want to make sure I don't "burn" my corals.

04/30/2012, 09:37 PM	#18
demariners Work In Progress Join Date: Aug 2005 Location: Arizona Posts: 972	Terrific! So I assume these levels are at where the animal is? I know a silly question but I have never used a light meter before.

04/30/2012, 09:38 PM	#19
demariners Work In Progress Join Date: Aug 2005 Location: Arizona Posts: 972	Can corals/SPS...etc... take a LOT of light. Or should I dim it down if it is too much?

04/30/2012, 09:46 PM	#22
demariners Work In Progress Join Date: Aug 2005 Location: Arizona Posts: 972	Well I currently have panaroma pro led and I wanted a log meter because ,y clams died. I assume it was ecause the light output is not enough. That is why I am going to return the panaroma and get a radon? Unless you think otherwise.... That's my plan....

04/30/2012, 10:04 PM	#24
demariners Work In Progress Join Date: Aug 2005 Location: Arizona Posts: 972	Jthanks for all your help. Now I have to decide whether to get LED or MH.