Up to PAR: Do you use a PAR meter when placing new coral in your aquarium?

[AlyciaMarie]

PAR meters can tend to be one of the more expensive tools in the saltwater toolbox, and because of this, some would prefer to try to make their corals happy without it if possible. Others swear that the payoff for thriving corals is worth the dollars spent. Where do you fall on this spectrum?

Do you use a PAR meter when placing new coral in your tank? Has using it or not using it affected your coral growth?

(thinking of adding one to my wish list from @Gumbies R Us )

 

[MissMolly]

Yes, prior to getting my first acropora I purchased a PAR meter. Thought my light was pretty good and "up to PAR" but it was NOT. That was def an eyeopener. Will never not use a PAR meter again...

 

[Cichlid Dad]

I have one so I use it. That being said, not needed at all. A little googly and you will be in the ball park.

 

[Reefer Matt]

I have the Apogee MQ-510. I find it invaluable and use it regularly. When I upgraded the lights on the sps display tank, the coral didn’t miss a beat. I was able to take before and after readings to insure I didn’t shock them. I found a decent combo deal on Amazon a few years ago. I suggest at least renting or borrowing one and mapping out your tank to eliminate guessing.

 

[bradreef]

I have access to one easily, so with my two new tanks I tried to dial in par to the levels I wanted. Then as I place corals, I have an idea of what levels they are going to get and I just need to factor in flow.

 

[TriGa22]

Yes, prior to getting my first acropora I purchased a PAR meter. Thought my light was pretty good and "up to PAR" but it was NOT. That was def an eyeopener. Will never not use a PAR meter again...

You have a RL90? If so what were your findings. If you still use it what setting are you using?

 

[BeanAnimal]

Almost universally a waste of time. The devices provide a false sense of understanding and therefore no real actionable data. Spectrum varies far too much from source to source and PPFD readings from meter to meter for the data to be anything vaguely reasonable.

PAR Meters – Illuminating or Not? | BeanAnimal's Reef

 

[Gumbies R Us]

I just eye ball it in my tank

 

[rtparty]

I use one to setup my lights initially and then it is usually being lent out to someone so they can setup their lights. Once my lights are setup, I know the PAR levels throughout the tank and can place coral accordingly. Although, I routinely break the "PAR rules" for corals. I put LPS in 3-400 PAR all the time with no issues.

The massive hammer and frogspawn colonies in my old 250 were getting 300+ PAR the whole time.

 

[Dburr1014]

I use a part meter periodically to post map so I have a general idea of brightness.
ParWise also has color temperature.

I understand what beananimal is saying and it's just another tool to use to get an idea of your lighting. It's it perfect, no. It will guide you to setting your lights though.

 

[lbacha]

I have an apogee-510 so I use it when first setting up a tank or to see how adjustments to my lights impact intensity. Once the tank is going I just place corals based on how the other corals are doing

 

[EricR]

Other -- I rent an Apogee MQ-510 for $20 from a semi-local reefer very infrequently,,, maybe 5 times in 3 years.
I just log par at different spots in my tank and place corals with last PAR mapping in mind.

 

[JayM]

No. It's helpful for monitoring how much your light output degrades over time, but other than that, pretty much completely unnecessary and overrated in my humble opinion.

 

[JoJosReef]

Use it when I set up the tank initially or change lights. Map out the PAR ranges in the tank. Then randomly place corals in the thank wherever there is space... I guess not a great use of the meter??? At least in the beginning, I set the intensity so that I'm not frying anything.

 

[boacvh]

I used it once to get an idea of levels at different places in my tank. Then never again. Corals are fine.

 

[MissMolly]

You have a RL90? If so what were your findings. If you still use it what setting are you using?

I have a Danaplus

 

[MissMolly]

Use it when I set up the tank initially or change lights. Map out the PAR ranges in the tank. Then randomly place corals in the thank wherever there is space... I guess not a great use of the meter??? At least in the beginning, I set the intensity so that I'm not frying anything.

Hahaha I love this!

 

[MissMolly]

You have a RL90? If so what were your findings. If you still use it what setting are you using?

Sorry YES I got the RL90 Popbloom. I was all focused on PAR meters

 

[MoshJosh]

I mean I probably would use one but. . .

 

[Crabs McJones]

I see a seneye to gauge the approximately area i wanted to place my corals