Is the Bulk Reef Supply PAR meter "rental" worth it?

[Mywifeisgunnakillme]

I mean if you are going to spend that much... you could just own the USB par meter and connect it to a windows or mac.

USB Smart Quantum SQ-420 PAR Sensor - Apogee

PAR (photosynthetic active radiation) is the easiest way to measure the available light for corals consume and use for photosynthesis. With LED lights giving more and more control to the consumer the best thing is a PAR meter that is affordable and simple to use. With PAR readings you can...

www.bulkreefsupply.com

I have latest and greatest USB model, it was a few hundred dollars, a bit cheaper than the one the one with the hand held monitor.

I think it is much better than the unit with the handheld monitor because everyone has a computer or laptop and you can operate it with one person much more easily... you just read the numbers on the computer screen without having to do gymnastics trying to hold the hand held device while taking readings...

 

[reefz]

Do you have a Neptune Apex? The PMK module is only $299 I believe.

I am considering buying this. I have a full apex tank so It would work well. Does it load par levels pretty fast? Or do you have to leave the senser in a spot for a while before you get a reading?

 

[blaxsun]

I am considering buying this. I have a full apex tank so It would work well. Does it load par levels pretty fast? Or do you have to leave the senser in a spot for a while before you get a reading?

The PAR readings are more or less instantaneous. You can move it around and it returns new readings in seconds.

 

[Spicy Reef]

Sorry, posted in wrong thread.... delete?

 

[psott]

An LFS in the GTA will rent you a PAR Meter for $30 for 2 days maybe check around local stores?

 

[VanDalsenReef]

Yes I believe it is worth it. It showed me I was torching my zoas (500 par) on my sandbed.

 

[diverdown14]

I made a handle with 1 in pvc pipe and a 45deg fitting. I cut a slot at the bottom, drilled a hole and attached the par sensor. The cable goes inside the pipe. I can take a pic when I get home if interested.

IMO it's best to buy the sensor direct from Apogee. Mine is the mid-level one w/usb which cost like $400 iirc and should be calibrated yearly, but I use it often enough to justify the expense. If you have a reef club in your area someone has one you can borrow or go in on one with a handful of local reefers.

I think the $100 rental option is reasonable, since you mostly need to measure par during setup then once par is dialed in leave settings alone.

 

[MikeIkerson]

Anyone know why BRS discontinued the par meter rental? Or know where to rent one now?

 

[VanDalsenReef]

If you click on the meters it's a 60 day return and 100 restock fee

 

[Tamberav]

Anyone know why BRS discontinued the par meter rental? Or know where to rent one now?

Rental: Apogee MQ-510 Par Meter: Full-Spectrum Underwater Quantum Meter + Wand

Rent the newest Apogee MQ-510 Par meter specially designed to measure the blue light emited from LEDs. Rental price starts at $15 and shipped directly to your door. Don't settle for cheap inaccurate equipment anymore. Find out exactly what par your coral needs.

www.podyourreef.com

 

[thatmanMIKEson]

I finally broke down and bought the Apogee
MQ-510 w/fancy wond, I guess I'm glad I did in a way (not the $$$ way!), its not something I will use alot but I figured it will last years where my lights won't, so the odds of me replacing lights and needing to use a par meter again were high. I did not feel like giving 100$ + to brs everytime and eventually giving them back the par meter, thats if nothing happened to it or I forgot by the return deadline. Also I have 2 systems that have t5/led lighting so I was able to test both and I was very surprised, I had it set to my eye and what I thought was good, I knew it was a little high, but according to the par meter it was very high! I lowered lighting intensity accordingly with the meter and noticed a difference in growth and coral quality.
When there was only t5's, power compacts, and MH lights I would have said don't waste the time and money on a par meter or mapping, but leds can definitely be deceiving and can be much stronger or weaker than appears.