Bad par meter or weak XR15 G6 Pro?

[jadedog]

Good morning!

Im using a cheap vabira par meter on my 36"x18"22" tank. I Have two xr15 g6 pros and I have them maxed out on blues and my whites are about 65ish. Anyway when checking on rocks about 16" deep in the tank not including the 9" mount height I am just hitting 100par. Does this seem correct? When I go to the sand bed I get like 120 which makes no sense to me. The vabira par meter seems different then most people's on this forum it does Par and uva.

 

[Rocks reef]

Yes, that seems correct. The 15s are meant for shallow tanks. They don't have enough power to push PAR to the bottom of the tank.

 

[jadedog]

Yes, that seems correct. The 15s are meant for shallow tanks. They don't have enough power to push PAR to the bottom of the tank.

Thanks! maybe im crazy but I swear ive seen post of people getting alot more par with these lights at like half of my intensity lol.

 

[NanoSteam]

Which version do you have, one small and one big lens? If so you need to multiply by 1.4 to get your actual PAR results.

Here's a post from a member who tested it:

If you have one of the other lens configurations, i'm not familiar with how to measure but this thread has every bit of info you need for the VBR:

VBR-Aqua PAR Meter for Aquarium R,G,B PAR Seperately

Just to be 100% sure... It's this one ? yup!

www.reef2reef.com

 

[rtparty]

The PAR meter is incorrect which isn’t a shocker for that VBR. They constantly change the sensors in them

2 XR15s on that size tank should be hitting around 150 PAR on the sand with your settings

 

[jadedog]

Which version do you have, one small and one big lens? If so you need to multiply by 1.4 to get your actual PAR results.

Here's a post from a member who tested it:

If you have one of the other lens configurations, i'm not familiar with how to measure but this thread has every bit of info you need for the VBR:

VBR-Aqua PAR Meter for Aquarium R,G,B PAR Seperately

Just to be 100% sure... It's this one ? yup!

www.reef2reef.com

Would the small and large sensor be this one? Seems like big thread doesnt have much details on this senor. Thank you

 

[andyreid]

Good morning!

Im using a cheap vabira par meter on my 36"x18"22" tank. I Have two xr15 g6 pros and I have them maxed out on blues and my whites are about 65ish. Anyway when checking on rocks about 16" deep in the tank not including the 9" mount height I am just hitting 100par. Does this seem correct? When I go to the sand bed I get like 120 which makes no sense to me. The vabira par meter seems different then most people's on this forum it does Par and uva.

I have both an apogee 510 and the cheapo Vabira from Amazon. The Vabira will read lower than the apogee - the apogee includes a correction factor for submerged readings of 1.25.

So, if you want the Vabira reading to be close to the apogee, multiply the displayed number by 1.25

 

[jadedog]

The PAR meter is incorrect which isn’t a shocker for that VBR. They constantly change the sensors in them

2 XR15s on that size tank should be hitting around 150 PAR on the sand with your settings

Thats what I was thinking... and most people posting with the vabira do not have my version of it.

 

[NanoSteam]

Would the small and large sensor be this one? Seems like big thread doesnt have much details on this senor. Thank you

Yes, multiply your results by 1.4 and that's your actual PAR. PS that's the version I have as well.

 

[jadedog]

Yes, multiply your results by 1.4 and that's your actual PAR. PS that's the version I have as well.

Thanks so much man! Ive been blasting my torches unnecessary because this stupid meter...

 

[andyreid]

Yes, multiply your results by 1.4 and that's your actual PAR. PS that's the version I have as well.

Thanks so much man! Ive been blasting my torches unnecessary because this stupid meter...

P.s. that’s the same sensor I have on the Vabira. It actually reads very close to the apogee if you multiply the reading by 1.25.

I’m almost kicking myself for paying $500 more for the apogee - but then I would never have know

 

[NanoSteam]

P.s. that’s the same sensor I have on the Vabira. It actually reads very close to the apogee if you multiply the reading by 1.25.

I’m almost kicking myself for paying $500 more for the apogee - but then I would never have know

I'm just glad there's more affordable options now... you can even get the apogee USB version for much less.