Is it worth buy a good light meter ?

Johnic · 01/20/2019, 12:01 PM

Just installed new XR15coming off a T5/LED and want to bench mark and test the light as I tweak.
Is buy a Apogee Underwater Full Spectrum Quantum Meter MQ-510 worth the coin. Once the lights are setup and working well, is there a need for it anymore ?

Thoughts

tdhnry · 01/20/2019, 12:09 PM

BRS has a rental option on the Apogee MQ-510 for $50 for two weeks

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DeepBlueSea · 01/20/2019, 03:06 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Johnic

Just installed new XR15coming off a T5/LED and want to bench mark and test the light as I tweak.

Is buy a Apogee Underwater Full Spectrum Quantum Meter MQ-510 worth the coin. Once the lights are setup and working well, is there a need for it anymore ?

Thoughts

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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mcgyvr · 01/20/2019, 06:35 PM

No IMO unless you are frequently changing light settings or intend to rent it out yourself.

Johnic · 01/20/2019, 06:36 PM

All good options...I’d still like to own my own...
How do you like the MQ-210 ?

DeepBlueSea · 01/20/2019, 06:43 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Johnic

All good options...I’d still like to own my own...
How do you like the MQ-210 ?

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 · 01/20/2019, 07:40 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by DeepBlueSea

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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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 · 01/20/2019, 10:32 PM

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 · 01/20/2019, 10:36 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ChronicReefH2o

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.

So with the 210 no conversion is required ?

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DeepBlueSea · 01/21/2019, 05:14 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Johnic

So with the 210 no conversion is required ?

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Today’s model 210 are calibrated for conversion.

DeepBlueSea · 01/21/2019, 08:30 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Johnic

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.

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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ReefWreak · 01/21/2019, 08:57 AM

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).

mattgumaer · 01/21/2019, 09:06 AM

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

mcgyvr · 01/21/2019, 09:31 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by mattgumaer

IMO, running LEDs without a par meter is just guessing.

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 · 01/21/2019, 09:35 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by mcgyvr

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 · 01/21/2019, 10:55 AM

225 shipped. Works great

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Johnic · 01/21/2019, 11:39 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ReeferSutherlnd

225 shipped. Works great

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Which model is that ?

01/20/2019, 12:01 PM	#1
Johnic Registered Member Join Date: Jun 2004 Location: SoCal Posts: 1,092	Is it worth buy a good light meter ? Just installed new XR15coming off a T5/LED and want to bench mark and test the light as I tweak. Is buy a Apogee Underwater Full Spectrum Quantum Meter MQ-510 worth the coin. Once the lights are setup and working well, is there a need for it anymore ? Thoughts __________________ 75 Lee Mar Peninsula Tank, Reef Octo Elite 150, Custom Advanced Acrylic Sump, (2) MP40, Vectra M2 Main Pump, (2) XR15 Pro, Clear Water ATS CW-50, Alkatronic,GHL Doser 2.1, Apex Neptune El with Trident

01/20/2019, 12:09 PM	#2
tdhnry Registered Member Join Date: Dec 2010 Location: New York Posts: 289	BRS has a rental option on the Apogee MQ-510 for $50 for two weeks Sent from my SM-G950U using Tapatalk __________________ 3x250w HQI's, 1/4hp Chiller, Tunze Wavebox, Tunze 6100, Reefkeeper 2 and RKL, Litermeter III w/PM Kalkreactor, PM Carbon Reactor, Mag 12, SWC xtreme 180 Skimmer Current Tank Info: 125gal reef tank

01/20/2019, 06:35 PM	#4
mcgyvr Registered Member Join Date: Sep 2003 Location: North Carolina Posts: 20,050	No IMO unless you are frequently changing light settings or intend to rent it out yourself. __________________ Who me?

01/20/2019, 06:36 PM	#5
Johnic Registered Member Join Date: Jun 2004 Location: SoCal Posts: 1,092	All good options...I’d still like to own my own... How do you like the MQ-210 ? __________________ 75 Lee Mar Peninsula Tank, Reef Octo Elite 150, Custom Advanced Acrylic Sump, (2) MP40, Vectra M2 Main Pump, (2) XR15 Pro, Clear Water ATS CW-50, Alkatronic,GHL Doser 2.1, Apex Neptune El with Trident

01/20/2019, 10:32 PM	#8
ChronicReefH2o Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2019 Location: South SoCal Posts: 61	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.

01/21/2019, 08:57 AM	#12
ReefWreak Registered Member Join Date: Sep 2005 Location: Astoria, NYC Posts: 10,159	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).

01/21/2019, 09:06 AM	#13
mattgumaer Registered Member Join Date: Jun 2013 Posts: 561	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

01/21/2019, 10:55 AM	#16
ReeferSutherlnd Registered Member Join Date: Apr 2014 Posts: 28	225 shipped. Works great Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk