PAR meter

Here's a website for a PAR meter.  This would help show when are bulb need replacing.  http://www.apogee-inst.com/bqm_spec.htm

It would be very nice.  Unfortunately for me it is not worth it to buy just for myself.  It would be nice if the club had one so that we could borrow it when we needed it or even a group of us go in on one.  Since we only need it about once a year.

I for one would be happy to pay a fee ($5-$10) to use the meter.  However I would only use it once or twice.  Good IDEA!

coreyk wrote: I would be 100% happy to pay a 5$ fee and i would prob use it 4 times per year

Me too!  Plus I might buy a "time" and donate that to the club for research.

Cool... but boy is that thing BIG!

Nope, a specrophotometer is used to test water samples for ammonia, nitrate, phosphate, silicate, copper, ect...  Do any of us have a need for that?

Actually, I have access to one here at work, which is what I use to check my water.  Essentially all it is is a machine that tells you what color your test kit is .  For example, if you've ever done a phosphate test, you add a couple chemicals and the sample turns blue.  Then you have to compare the blue of the sample to a color wheel to determine how much phosphate is there.  Well the spectrophotometer zeros in on that wavelength of blue light and measures it's intensity converting that to a phosphate reading.  You still have to add chemicals to the water (i.e. you still need a "test kit", but usually not hobbyist... read more $$), but the machine reads the color chart.

If it works it's a good deal.  Ours is about 12" x 12" x 5" and very easy to use and I think about $2000.  The reagents are available at www.hach.com and usually run $30 - $100 per "kit" (I think... I don't actually buy them).

I'm surprised the guy who doesn't know what temperature his tank is at would be interested in such an instrument

Well I broke down and bought one ... I just cant stand not KNOWING when its time to change my bulbs. I really do think this would have been a good club purchase.


Edited by coreyk

I was thinking 10$ sounded reasonable also.

I agree it would be a cool club purchase but that is an item we'd really have to keep tabs on.

I hear that... I'm sure you guys have a hard enouhg time keeping track of the fishtrap!

Dude .. if I'm going to spend 300$ - 400$ on bulbs every 8 - 12 months I REALLY want to get every last penny out of them!

I see it as an investment. It might take a while for it to pay off for me alone.... but with everyone else getting the info as well, it will more than pay for itself in a few months. 

<edit>

Plus, the geek in me has been wanting one for over a year now! LOL


Edited by coreyk

Plus, the geek in me has been wanting one for over a year now! LOL

hmm, did somebody call?

I am so jealous!  You've got all the real cool toys