Recommend a PAR meter...

[Iain Sutherland]

So think i have decided to get a PAR meter, the question is which?
The seneye reef is the obvious budget choice but how does the PAR meter measure up?
Others i have heard of are the apogee mq-200 quantum
MQ-200 Quantum Separate Sensor with Handheld Meter - Apogee Instruments, Inc.
and the li-cor which are crazy money.
Aside from being waterproof what else should i be looking for?

thanks for any advice you may have...

 

[Nathaniel Whiteside]

Apparently the seneye ones are quite accurate, so I heard, can't remember from whom. Possibly Clive? A reliable source anyway.

I don't know anything at all about PAR meters though mate, sorry.

 

[LondonDragon]

This is the only one I have heard good things about:

MQ-200 Quantum Separate Sensor with Handheld Meter - Apogee Instruments, Inc.

Not sure about the Seneye but I have considered buying one if they were wifi! Maybe the next version!

 

[ceg4048]

I'm with Paulo. The Apogee is a great little meter, but is definitely overpriced. Don't know anything about the Seneye.

Vendors need to start a program where they hire out PAR meters.

Cheers,

 

[LondonDragon]

Vendors need to start a program where they hire out PAR meters.

Problem is most lighting vendors don't have one themselves! lol

 

[Iain Sutherland]

Ive been reading around the reef forums and the seneye gets terrible reviews with the par meter showing up to 20% variance from Apogee and unless totally horizontal and still then the PAR reading can vary by up to 50 with very small movements.
Would be nice to rent one, if only life was so easy.

 

[Nathaniel Whiteside]

Ahh okay, I stand corrected guys. Sorry

 

[flygja]

I have the seneye reef but haven't been able to borrow an Apogee MQ200 to confirm its results. It does have to be completely level in order to get a stable reading and due to its size, its hard sometimes, especially if you tank is heavily planted/scaped.

 

[faizal]

Hi Iain,..i've got an MQ200 with that separate sensor. I think it's very easy to use. I would go with it.

 

[pepedopolous]

Seneye Reef+ Aquarium monitor - Page 2 - Product Reviews - Nano-Reef.com Forums
Seneye as a PAR meter - Page 2 - UltimateReef.com

Dunno if you have seen these. The above threads are positive overall. I haven't got one yet but I'm tempted for the PAR functionality alone.

 

[Troglodyte]

Paulo,
Can I ask you a question? What information are your comments here based on? As I know this type of generic comment may be popular on forums however it may also show a lack of understanding of some of the experienced lighting manufacturers that are out there.
Ceg4048, I think this will be wishful thinking personally as there would be very little reason for them to do it, especially when there is no real requirement on the manufacturerto rent when they can sell. Just my tuppence worth!

 

[LondonDragon]

however it may also show a lack of understanding of some of the experienced lighting manufacturers that are out there.

So true, but you hardly see any par values given by any vendor, and when asked most of the time they just avoid the subject all together, not saying all are the same