PAR meter recommendations?

lpsouth1978 · 09/25/2018, 01:54 PM

I am looking to purchase a PAR meter today, but am struggling to decide on which one to get.

Is the Seneye accurate enough to be worth getting it over the Apogee? I don't plan on using any of its other features, an $200 is a good price for a PAR meter. I know the apogee is calibrated for LED's, so I am leaning toward it, but at almost $500 it is a tough pill to swallow.

What would you all recommend?

cvrle1 · 09/25/2018, 02:14 PM

If you are going to use it only a handful of times, see if you can rent one out or borrow from local club. Save your money for something more valuable.

Member No. 1 · 09/26/2018, 04:24 AM

I purchased the SQ-520. It doesn't come with the hand held meter. It plugs in a PC/Lap Top via USB, and you use the free Software from Apogee.
https://www.apogeeinstruments.com/sq...um-sensor-usb/

https://www.bulkreefsupply.com/sq-52...or-apogee.html

Scroll to the bottom of the page, click the video tab, there are 3 videos BRS did. One compares the Seneye to the Apogee.

mcgyvr · 09/26/2018, 04:58 AM

I'd look at the Biotek BTM3000 as it should be under $200 and is made by Apogee. It just plugs into a computer via USB vs having a standalone display..

Member No. 1 · 09/26/2018, 05:57 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by mcgyvr

I'd look at the Biotek BTM3000 as it should be under $200 and is made by Apogee. It just plugs into a computer via USB vs having a standalone display..

Since the BTM3000 is made by Apogee, I would tend to think its a rebranded SQ-420.
The SQ-420 is a good sensor, and will work just fine, whereas the SQ-520 is Full Spectrum.

https://www.apogeeinstruments.com/compare/123/113

oreo57 · 09/26/2018, 09:53 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Member No. 1

Since the BTM3000 is made by Apogee, I would tend to think its a rebranded SQ-420.

https://www.apogeeinstruments.com/compare/123/113

naaahhh.. 200 series sensor..
Seneye and the 200 have about the same spectrum response.
200 is cosine corrected so a bit easier to use..

"IF" one doesn't need anything but PAR it's a viable option vs the Seneye..

http://www.reefcentral.com/forums/sh....php?t=2545729

SQ-520 is the "cheapest" of the best...
https://www.apogeeinstruments.com/sq...um-sensor-usb/

Member No. 1 · 09/26/2018, 10:59 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by oreo57

naaahhh.. 200 series sensor..
Seneye and the 200 have about the same spectrum response.
200 is cosine corrected so a bit easier to use..

"IF" one doesn't need anything but PAR it's a viable option vs the Seneye..

SQ-520 is the "cheapest" of the best...
https://www.apogeeinstruments.com/sq...um-sensor-usb/

The reasoning behind thinking it was a rebranded SQ-420 and not a 200 series is I couldn't find a Series 200 that was USB. Do you know different?
If so please share.

cvrle1 · 09/26/2018, 11:06 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Member No. 1

The reasoning behind thinking it was a rebranded SQ-420 and not a 200 series is I couldn't find a Series 200 that was USB. Do you know different?
If so please share.

Doing some digging around, it seems that SQ-420 is MQ-200 sensor, just with USB added on.

Then there is this: "I had a question about the difference between the apogee and biotek marine par sensors so I called Apogee support to clarify. They said they are very similar but the apogee version came out later so it has some significant improvements over the biotek, mainly the ability to do internal data logging without having to be connected to a computer. They also said they have an agreement to not market their version to aquarium customers, but that the apogee 420 does work exactly the same underwater. "

oreo57 · 09/26/2018, 11:17 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Member No. 1

The reasoning behind thinking it was a rebranded SQ-420 and not a 200 series is I couldn't find a Series 200 that was USB. Do you know different?
If so please share.

http://www.apogeeinstruments.com/con...spec-sheet.pdf

check the chart...200 "class" sensor..

Member No. 1 · 09/26/2018, 11:51 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by cvrle1

Doing some digging around, it seems that SQ-420 is MQ-200 sensor, just with USB added on.

Then there is this: "I had a question about the difference between the apogee and biotek marine par sensors so I called Apogee support to clarify. They said they are very similar but the apogee version came out later so it has some significant improvements over the biotek, mainly the ability to do internal data logging without having to be connected to a computer. They also said they have an agreement to not market their version to aquarium customers, but that the apogee 420 does work exactly the same underwater. "

Thanks for the info. I couldn't find anything on their site.

Member No. 1 · 09/26/2018, 11:52 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by oreo57

http://www.apogeeinstruments.com/con...spec-sheet.pdf

check the chart...200 "class" sensor..

Shall do, thanks.

Just for clarification, I have the SQ-520. Works great!

lpsouth1978 · 09/26/2018, 01:40 PM

Thank you all for the responses and info. I have actually owned the Biotek sensor years ago and also once had the Apogee SQ-420 sensor attached to a volt meter long ago. The latter went to a local reef club in Colorado (before I moved to Arizona) and the Biotek went with an old roommate. Both were good sensors and did the job.

I decided to just order the Seneye, who knows maybe they will eventually come out with some new slides that are more useful than Ammonia and pH. I also figure that it can't hurt to have the built in Lux meter and spectrometer either.

09/25/2018, 01:54 PM	#1
lpsouth1978 Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: Arizona Posts: 915	PAR meter recommendations? I am looking to purchase a PAR meter today, but am struggling to decide on which one to get. Is the Seneye accurate enough to be worth getting it over the Apogee? I don't plan on using any of its other features, an $200 is a good price for a PAR meter. I know the apogee is calibrated for LED's, so I am leaning toward it, but at almost $500 it is a tough pill to swallow. What would you all recommend? __________________ Current tank: 40B work in progress w/20L sump

09/26/2018, 04:24 AM	#3
Member No. 1 Ver. 2.1 Join Date: Mar 2005 Location: Rehoboth, MA Posts: 1,803	I purchased the SQ-520. It doesn't come with the hand held meter. It plugs in a PC/Lap Top via USB, and you use the free Software from Apogee. https://www.apogeeinstruments.com/sq...um-sensor-usb/ https://www.bulkreefsupply.com/sq-52...or-apogee.html Scroll to the bottom of the page, click the video tab, there are 3 videos BRS did. One compares the Seneye to the Apogee. __________________ Pete "I never make mistakes... I thought I did once, but I was wrong" Current Tank Info: In the process - http://reefcentral.com/forums/showthread.php?t=2661614

09/26/2018, 04:58 AM	#4
mcgyvr Registered Member Join Date: Sep 2003 Location: North Carolina Posts: 20,050	I'd look at the Biotek BTM3000 as it should be under $200 and is made by Apogee. It just plugs into a computer via USB vs having a standalone display.. __________________ Who me?

09/26/2018, 01:40 PM	#12
lpsouth1978 Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: Arizona Posts: 915	Thank you all for the responses and info. I have actually owned the Biotek sensor years ago and also once had the Apogee SQ-420 sensor attached to a volt meter long ago. The latter went to a local reef club in Colorado (before I moved to Arizona) and the Biotek went with an old roommate. Both were good sensors and did the job. I decided to just order the Seneye, who knows maybe they will eventually come out with some new slides that are more useful than Ammonia and pH. I also figure that it can't hurt to have the built in Lux meter and spectrometer either. __________________ Current tank: 40B work in progress w/20L sump

09/25/2018, 02:14 PM	#2
cvrle1 Registered Member Join Date: Nov 2000 Location: Surrey, BC Posts: 454	If you are going to use it only a handful of times, see if you can rent one out or borrow from local club. Save your money for something more valuable.