Is it worth buy a good light meter ?
- Thread starter Johnic
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DeepBlueSea
New member
I recently purchased the 210 during holiday sales. Based on BRS video I think it's basically close enough in understanding my lighting. Just my $.02
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DeepBlueSea
New member
It was eye opening and educational how much PAR can be loss in 2". I was only running 2 radions xr15 g4 on a 120. Purchased the meter and within a week purchased 2 more radions. Haven't installed them yet. Will be interesting to see values with 4 radions. Also helps with EcoSmart live and intensity levels.
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Johnic
Premium Member
Interesting. Looks like I might get the 210.
I have a 75 that's 36x24x20 deep with 2 XR15 set to 40% intensity. It's in acclimation mode now at 50% start.
ChronicReefH2o
New member
The 210 is a great par meter, I currently own the older model and have to do the conversion which kind of sucks and takes up a lot of time. GL with the meter, I'm sure you will find it very useful.
Johnic
Premium Member
DeepBlueSea
New member
Today’s model 210 are calibrated for conversion.
DeepBlueSea
New member
So without knowing what your PAR, what does knowing what EcoSmart live means for your corals?
Sure I watched YouTube videos and forum messages on EcoSmart settings but until I actually received the meter it really meant nothing. Had a number of LPS that we're doing quite well. One acro, directly under one light was doing well, while the other side acro browned out. Once I had the meter I found out that the browned out acro had only about 180 but the acro that was doing relatively well was running 250. I have room to boost intensity on the dual radions but if I stayed with only 2. I'd have hot spots 7/8" deep.
That's why I say it was educational
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I just bought a used Seneye Reef edition for $100 ($90 after ebay bucks), which has a PAR meter that was tested against the MQ-510 and found to be equivalent from a very thorough scientific reefer.
I've wanted a PAR meter forever, but couldn't justify the ~$300+. Now I didn't have to. I will have to figure out how to USB this to something, since I don't have my own laptop anymore, but I can use a work laptop, wife's laptop, or maybe they have something for android (though I think only via web interface that you need a laptop or their wifi bridget to use).
I've wanted a PAR meter forever, but couldn't justify the ~$300+. Now I didn't have to. I will have to figure out how to USB this to something, since I don't have my own laptop anymore, but I can use a work laptop, wife's laptop, or maybe they have something for android (though I think only via web interface that you need a laptop or their wifi bridget to use).
mattgumaer
New member
IMO, running LEDs without a par meter is just guessing. Your eyes (or at least mine) are not a great judge of intensity. So much depends on the type of LED, the number of LEDs, the height of the LEDs, aquascaping, etc., that getting nice, even, appropriate par levels across a tank is difficult to do without a par meter. I think this is particularly true with 'point source' or 'puck' style LEDs where lighting levels can be very, very different in different parts of the tank.
Matt
Matt
mcgyvr
New member
Even with them there is quite a bit of guessing still happening..
Its a tool.. It has "some" benefit.. Does it have a few hundred dollars worth of benefit.. Thats for each to decide..
Johnic seems to have made his mind up before even posting here
Johnic
Premium Member
Even with them there is quite a bit of guessing still happening..
Its a tool.. It has "some" benefit.. Does it have a few hundred dollars worth of benefit.. Thats for each to decide..
Johnic seems to have made his mind up before even posting here
Renting is still an option. $400 is a bit of coin for something used only a few times.
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ReeferSutherlnd
New member
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Johnic
Premium Member
225 shipped. Works great
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Which model is that ?
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