Author |
Topic Search Topic Options
|
coreyk
Guest
Joined: July 31 2003
Location: United States
Status: Offline
Points: 1756
|
Post Options
Thanks(0)
Quote Reply
Topic: PAR Meter Thread Posted: May 11 2005 at 7:41pm |
Well .. I got my PAR meter today.
I have not gotten a chance to play much yet, but I wanted to start a thread
about it for the people who are interested in it and/or having me stop by to
measure their bulbs.
If you do want me to come over and measure your bulbs I would be more than
happy to! I would love if you gave me a 5$ or 10$ donation (or whatever). I
will take this $$$ and put it into a pool until there is enough to order
another PAR meter to just pass around the club. Don't feel like you HAVE to
give anything though. Its my pleasure just to come look at your tanks!!!
I'm still figuring all this out and I have a couple of questions, but here is
the info I have gathered so far. I TOOK most of this directly from post on RC.
The meter I have is a Apogee Instruments QMSS-ELEC Quantum
meter with sensor. Calibrated for electric lamps.
First, what's a PAR meter
A PAR meter measures light intensity. For example, in the sun the meter read
about 1600 PAR, while the 250 watt bulb over the clams measures about 350 right
above the water. This meter is calibrated for electric lamps. There is a
conversion to use, I think based on bulb Kelvin rating, because the light
frequency affects the measurement.
A PAR meter can be used to compare lighting systems, see the impact of an
upgrade, etc. It can also be used to detect degradation in your bulbs, based on
a change in intensity. Again, if anyone has specific information about that,
feel free to post.
The instructions are included, and it is VERY easy to use.
What should I do with it?
Get measurements from anywhere in your tank ... from one spot, or many
different spots. The probe is water proof and the sensor is fully submergible.
In fact you will get a much better idea of how much light you are providing to
your corals by taking in tank measurements. Water clarity plays a huge role in
the amount of light reaching your animals, as such you can find large
differences from one tank to another even when using the same lighting.
As time goes on, that we can give light requirements of certain corals in terms
of PAR rather than high, medium or low light. It really helps other to
understand what lighting you have a coral under when you can tell them the
coral is under an Ushio bulb receiving 380 PAR.
By the way, the light sensor is attached to the meter with a cord. You can hold
the probe over the water, and the meter NOT over the water, so the meter won't
get dropped it.
from apogee:
As you can see from the website, the Apogee sensor does have an imperfect
spectral response. This is due to the difficulties of getting silicon to absorb
the entire range of visible radiation. As a result, we calibrate our sensors to
specific light sources to correct for the spectral variation. This works very
well for plant researcher's who use a limited number of light types in their
greenhouses.
Given the number of lights available in the aquarium industry we can not
possible go through and calculate the correction factor for each of the different
lamps. However, Joe Burger is also interested in quantifying aquarium lighting,
wanted to get correction factors and we have supported his studies. You can
find his results and correction factors on the web at http://www.cnidarianreef.com/lamps.cfm.
AGAIN
Great site with bulb and PAR info. http://www.cnidarianreef.com/lamps.cfm
My first Q ... Joe Burgers website is very clear, but how
does this relate to sanjays bulb data? He (sanjay) doesn't list a straight PAR value.
Ok I know Shane is first on the list for a visit and I will bring it with me to
Jeff and Brads on Friday. Anyone else?
Man that was a long post with lots of opprotunity for spelling errors... Yes I did that one on purpose.
Edited by coreyk
|
|
bugzme
Guest
Joined: May 22 2004
Location: West Jordan
Status: Offline
Points: 4815
|
Post Options
Thanks(0)
Quote Reply
Posted: May 11 2005 at 8:27pm |
I'll gladly donate 10.00 towards the meter! Remind me to give it to you on friday.
|
Jeff 125 tank 50 gallon sump T-5 lighting Rum drinker, Carbon User I KNOW ROCKS THAT ARE YOUNGER THEN ME!! I AM A Realist! I write what I think!!
|
|
tileman
Guest
Joined: November 05 2003
Location: Murray
Status: Offline
Points: 5368
|
Post Options
Thanks(0)
Quote Reply
Posted: May 11 2005 at 8:28pm |
I'll be happy to donate Corey, plus I just changed my bulbs so it will be nice to know what value I have. See you Friday.
|
335G Reef TOTM. http://www.advancedaquarist.com/2015/2/aquarium ReefKeepers TOTM Feb. 2012 http://reefkeeping.com/joomla/index....k-of-the-month
&
|
|
dnellans
Guest
Joined: October 29 2003
Location: Uzbekistan
Status: Offline
Points: 842
|
Post Options
Thanks(0)
Quote Reply
Posted: May 11 2005 at 10:30pm |
i'd love to have you come over corey! i'm very interested to see
how people with a LOT of power compacts compare to those with 1 metal
halide... a donation is waiting in sugarhouse.
|
|
Chris
Guest
Joined: November 17 2004
Location: United States
Status: Offline
Points: 376
|
Post Options
Thanks(0)
Quote Reply
Posted: May 11 2005 at 11:28pm |
Corey I will donate to your meter also.
|
|
coreyk
Guest
Joined: July 31 2003
Location: United States
Status: Offline
Points: 1756
|
Post Options
Thanks(0)
Quote Reply
Posted: May 12 2005 at 12:24am |
Dave: Great! Sugarhouse is close(ish) to my work. How about next week sometime?
Chris: I'll plan on your place early next week. It would also be cool
to hit someone who is running a 150w 14K phoenix, to compare to your
hami.
|
|
jfinch
Guest
Joined: March 06 2003
Location: Pleasant Grove
Status: Offline
Points: 7067
|
Post Options
Thanks(0)
Quote Reply
Posted: May 12 2005 at 12:34am |
Corey, if you get down into Utah County please make time to stop by my place too. Thanks.
|
|
|
ssilcox
Guest
Joined: November 17 2003
Location: Sandy
Status: Offline
Points: 3428
|
Post Options
Thanks(0)
Quote Reply
Posted: May 12 2005 at 12:35am |
Corey - just let me know when is best for you - I'd be extremely happy to donate to the cause.
|
|
coreyk
Guest
Joined: July 31 2003
Location: United States
Status: Offline
Points: 1756
|
Post Options
Thanks(0)
Quote Reply
Posted: May 12 2005 at 12:54am |
Jon .. I sure will come by ... prob be a couple of weeks before I'm able to get up your way.
Shane: Cool .. How about end of next week sometime?
|
|
rstruhs
Guest
Joined: October 18 2003
Location: Japan
Status: Offline
Points: 1003
|
Post Options
Thanks(0)
Quote Reply
Posted: May 12 2005 at 1:10am |
dnellans wrote:
i'd love to have you come over corey! i'm very interested to see how people with a LOT of power compacts compare to those with 1 metal halide... a donation is waiting in sugarhouse. |
And I have a LOT of PC's on my 75 gal tank. I would gladly donate and would definitely like to enourage you to come by mine and Steve Lopez's.
I get home most days at 4pm and am home most weekends now. Just call ahead or schedule a time!
Home phone: 801-282-2744
Cell phone: 801-554-4641
TIA!
|
Rodney, Sandra, Jeffery, and Laura Struhs South Jordan, Utah 98th South & 40th West. (801) 282-2744 75 gallon reef 55 gallon reef 55 gallon FOWLR 20 gallon FOWLR
|
|
fj40fax
Guest
Joined: November 04 2004
Location: United States
Status: Offline
Points: 1261
|
Post Options
Thanks(0)
Quote Reply
Posted: May 12 2005 at 1:24am |
When you come down to do Jon's tank stop by my place too. Just
let me know when you are coming down and I will be at the office.
Thanks!
Fax
|
Fax 318-3632 90g 2x250W 14kK MH Sump, Fuge, G3, UV, O3, ACIII Pleasant Grove, UT Across State Street from the Purple Turtle Adjustments and Massages for Frags!
|
|
coreyk
Guest
Joined: July 31 2003
Location: United States
Status: Offline
Points: 1756
|
Post Options
Thanks(0)
Quote Reply
Posted: May 12 2005 at 1:30am |
Surething Fax
Got you down Rodney! I'll start a list and get ahold of people a week or so before. To setup a time.
Edited by coreyk
|
|
KeoDog
Guest
Joined: September 18 2002
Location: United States
Status: Offline
Points: 884
|
Post Options
Thanks(0)
Quote Reply
Posted: May 12 2005 at 7:44am |
Corey, I live pretty close to Shane Silcox, so when you come by to check his, would you mind stopping by my place? Thanks
|
Kevin Kunz (Sandy, UT) 300g reef "A trade by which one gains and the other loses is a fraud." Ayn Rand
|
|
coreyk
Guest
Joined: July 31 2003
Location: United States
Status: Offline
Points: 1756
|
Post Options
Thanks(0)
Quote Reply
Posted: May 12 2005 at 8:19am |
That sounds good Kevin .. It would be nice to group a few in the same
area together people together. I might bring a friend w/ me to see your
plywood tank, if thats ok?
|
|
Seaul8r
Guest
Joined: April 15 2005
Location: United States
Status: Offline
Points: 190
|
Post Options
Thanks(0)
Quote Reply
Posted: May 12 2005 at 9:50am |
I would also appreciate a visit for the reading as well as your opinions on lighting improvements. I am running pc only and am ready to make improvements. I am in WVC near Dkle. Willing to contribute as well!
|
75 Gallon Display, 75 Sump/Refug, Euroreef ES5-2 Skimmer, Iwaki 70 return pump, DIY Stand/Canopy
|
|
coreyk
Guest
Joined: July 31 2003
Location: United States
Status: Offline
Points: 1756
|
Post Options
Thanks(0)
Quote Reply
Posted: May 12 2005 at 10:11am |
Roger: Great .. Lets see we can coordinate something with Dinhkim in a couple of weeks. If he wants a visit also.
Edited by coreyk
|
|
Shane H
Presidency
Joined: March 09 2003
Location: Brigham City
Status: Offline
Points: 7921
|
Post Options
Thanks(0)
Quote Reply
Posted: May 12 2005 at 11:43am |
Corey, When you get a free evening - please plan on coming up to Brigham City. I'd love to have you measure the PAR of my bulbs and I'm sure Jason (reptoreef) would as well. I'm in for a donation to add a meter to the club! Great Idea.
|
|
Riley
Guest
Joined: July 14 2004
Location: United States
Status: Offline
Points: 149
|
Post Options
Thanks(0)
Quote Reply
Posted: May 12 2005 at 11:45am |
I would also like to have you come out and I would happily donate. I live in herriman right by Steve Lopez. I am considering getting a different 400 watt bulb and would like to know what par mine is now. Just let me know when Thanks Riley
|
Riley Herriman
|
|
KeoDog
Guest
Joined: September 18 2002
Location: United States
Status: Offline
Points: 884
|
Post Options
Thanks(0)
Quote Reply
Posted: May 12 2005 at 4:14pm |
Corey, sure bring a friend and of course I will donate to the cause. You might end up creating mini reef tours as other people will probably want to tag along with you.
|
Kevin Kunz (Sandy, UT) 300g reef "A trade by which one gains and the other loses is a fraud." Ayn Rand
|
|
ssilcox
Guest
Joined: November 17 2003
Location: Sandy
Status: Offline
Points: 3428
|
Post Options
Thanks(0)
Quote Reply
Posted: May 12 2005 at 4:44pm |
Corey -
Next week would be just fine - just PM me and let me know what works for you. I'll pay for your gas money. It can't be cheap driving all over salt lake doing us favors
|
|