CHEAP PAR meter

[Coral Memere]

I wish they were more accessible, I wish money wasnt a factor in our lives and capitalism the heart of business. But for $150-500, just to take light readings one time and then be set in a drawer... cmon.

This exactly why I hadn't pulled the trigger on buying a meter. Once I know what my setup does, I won't need it. I don't have $400 to sit waiting to go back on my card for an organized rental (which is what the online companies want to charge in case you forget to send it back), so I've been muddling through, moving things up and down.

But I have new, deeper tanks, a mishmash of lighting with good ones on the way. I NEED to know what they're getting before they burn.

I only looked back at this post to remember which brands people had been comparing and had to weed through this whole firestorm that involved two separate uses of the word "pedantic"...Go to sleep, people. We can discuss whether a shoplifted Snickers bar is the downfall of modern society, tomorrow. (An interview question when I was a DA.)

OP, I'll let you know how the Danoplus meter works.
(I'll also let you know how my 12' blow-up ghost and hologram ghost projector work, as well! )

 

[Coral Memere]

It turns out I was on the wrong post, anyway. Here is some really good info on par meters, from one of the forum's most trusted voices. Go here if you want to skip the other 'horsehockey', as Col. potter would say:

PAR Meter Recommendation

As I start to collect hardware for my upcoming build, one of my purchases will be a PAR meter. As I am going to be fussing around with lighting, starting out with my old T5 fixture and moving to LEDs, I want to be prepared. And there's the possibility of messing with my aquascape as well. I can...

www.reef2reef.com

 

[MissMolly]

@shrimplover if you get one do let us know your thoughts. pretty please

Hi! I have purchased the Danoplus. I have used it a couple of times now and it’s super user friendly, the stick and sensor is great quality and works superbly under water. The sensor can be adjusted to the right angle on the stick. PAR wise it seems reasonable. I don’t have a more pro/expensive device for comparison so I can’t tell if it’s 100 % accurate.

 

[Devaji]

Hi! I have purchased the Danoplus. I have used it a couple of times now and it’s super user friendly, the stick and sensor is great quality and works superbly under water. The sensor can be adjusted to the right angle on the stick. PAR wise it seems reasonable. I don’t have a more pro/expensive device for comparison so I can’t tell if it’s 100 % accurate.

thanks for the update I have that in my amazon wish list. :)
if anything changes over the weeks do let us know.

 

[Coral Memere]

Hi! I have purchased the Danoplus. I have used it a couple of times now and it’s super user friendly, the stick and sensor is great quality and works superbly under water. The sensor can be adjusted to the right angle on the stick. PAR wise it seems reasonable. I don’t have a more pro/expensive device for comparison so I can’t tell if it’s 100 % accurate.

Great to hear! I also bought it over the others because the interface looked more simple. I know what red, blue and green do for plants, but do I really care what their levels are underwater, as long as the light is getting to the corals? No. Lol I just need to know how deep my light is getting.

 

[MissMolly]

Great to hear! I also bought it over the others because the interface looked more simple. I know what red, blue and green do for plants, but do I really care what their levels are underwater, as long as the light is getting to the corals? No. Lol I just need to know how deep my light is getting.

Same here. Works great for me! And actually it was an eyeopener to see how little light actually penetrates through the water surface. PAR was way lower than expected.

 

[MissMolly]

thanks for the update I have that in my amazon wish list. :)
if anything changes over the weeks do let us know.

Will do. Three days in and I’m still obsessed. Everything gets a PAR reading. It’s so mindblowingly easy to use.

 

[Devaji]

Will do. Three days in and I’m still obsessed. Everything gets a PAR reading. It’s so mindblowingly easy to use.

I so need one..well want one. I am curious about the lighting(par) on both of my tanks.

 

[Coral Memere]

I so need one..well want one. I am curious about the lighting(par) on both of my tanks.

Well, where are you? I'll be loaning mine out, instead of returning it. Unless I get compulsive about it, like @shrimplover- ENTIRELY likely!! Lol

 

[MissMolly]

I so need one..well want one. I am curious about the lighting(par) on both of my tanks.

To me it was an eyeopener and really helped when adjusting my light. I donøt see how I could add corals witout one really.

 

[AquaLogic]

Hi! I have purchased the Danoplus. I have used it a couple of times now and it’s super user friendly, the stick and sensor is great quality and works superbly under water. The sensor can be adjusted to the right angle on the stick. PAR wise it seems reasonable. I don’t have a more pro/expensive device for comparison so I can’t tell if it’s 100 % accurate.

Have you compared it (at least above water) to readings from the Photone app? that would be very interesting, as I believe the app is quite accurate. Would be a nearly free (6$ for the blue/white led option) way to test the Danoplus accuracy.

 

[Aquacrazed]

My video comparing the Danoplus to an Apogee MQ-210:

 

[kyreefville]

@Aquacrazed
Any chance you could do us a solid and compare the photone app with two you have?

Thanks

 

[Devaji]

My video comparing the Danoplus to an Apogee MQ-210:

holly cow that is way off.
I thought there was a great amazon par meter out there? cant remimber the name off the top of my head tho.

edit: just checked my amazon wish list and I do have the Danoplus in there. must of heard good things about it.
have you checked them same spot but separately? I dont think that will make a difference but it could.
I would love a cheap par meter that worked .

 

[Aquacrazed]

Yeah I checked them at the same spot and it was waay off. As you can see in the video I tied them up with a rubber band and moved it around the tank. The Danoplus PAR was always significantly lower to the Apogee but it just seemed random, I couldn't calculate a percentage that was lower. I've seen some posts on here that say it's 10% lower. That is clearly false, unless I got a defective unit.

 

[Devaji]

Yeah I checked them at the same spot and it was waay off. As you can see in the video I tied them up with a rubber band and moved it around the tank. The Danoplus PAR was always significantly lower to the Apogee but it just seemed random, I couldn't calculate a percentage that was lower. I've seen some posts on here that say it's 10% lower. That is clearly false, unless I got a defective unit.

I read somewhere there was a conversion you had to do with the new sensor. IDK its some where on here tho

 

[Aquacrazed]

I read somewhere there was a conversion you had to do with the new sensor. IDK its some where on here tho

The new Danoplus sensor?

 

[Justdrew]

I think the Danoplus may vary from unit to unit. Mine is perfectly fine and within 10% of an apogee I rented awhile back. I have run a 20K Radium 250W for many years. I know what par I should be getting. My Danoplus reads it correctly with 350-500 par in my tank.

 

[strawberrydreams]

Spot on is a more affordable par meter for use in greenhouses but not sure about underwater use.

Grow Light Meters - Measure PAR, PPFD, Lux, and More - Migro

Explore our range of fantastic Grow Light Meters for accurate measurements of PAR & PPFD. Ensure optimal light intensity and conditions in your indoor garden.

migrolight.com

 

[Aquacrazed]

Spot on is a more affordable par meter for use in greenhouses but not sure about underwater use.

Grow Light Meters - Measure PAR, PPFD, Lux, and More - Migro

Explore our range of fantastic Grow Light Meters for accurate measurements of PAR & PPFD. Ensure optimal light intensity and conditions in your indoor garden.

migrolight.com

Why get one of these when you can get a MQ 210 for around the same price? Are you promoting this product?