Can any par/pur meter be trusted?

[Aardvark1134]

So after watching this BRS video I wonder are there any par/pur meters we can trust? Even one of the industry best that is like $2K turns out was misreading by almost 35% for years without anyone realizing it. How in the word do we compare par or pur #s with hardware like these? Also add in we really should be using pur and not par. :(



Just aggravated as I really want to get a par/pur meter but not if I can't trust it...

 

[oreo54]

you are referring to the
Li-Cor software glitch that wasn't applying the immersion coefficient.

TALK about embarrassing...

See the thing is it's always been more of a "comparison" thing not really absolutes..
There is no ,and possibly can't be an "absolute" meter due to the differences in absorption/use of photons not only between classes but even ind. species..
"PUR" has as many inaccuracies as "PAR" unless you know the "PUR" of an individual species (and even that could vary ).

besides there are multiple other "errors" like who calibrates the meter monthly..ect..ect..

The Apogee new sensor w/ USB interface is prob. your best bet as to as "accurate" as one can expect for a fair price..

 

[Aardvark1134]

Do you think renting the apogee 510 model with the correct probe for $50 is a good deal since you probably only need it to create your starting baseline? Or do you think you should buy one to always have around? I am one of those I want to get the lights right...but once they are I will probably never touch them again til one goes out type of people.

 

[oreo54]

Personal call.
I went w/ a Seneye Reef since it was cheaper, good enough (as tested by others) and had other bells and whistles (which I ended up not using).
But I consider it more of a trend meter..not solid numbers.

Then again I like "gadgets" and would have preferred the Apogee in hindsight.