Light meter

[DanielCervantes]

Okay well I just received my light meter about 30 min ago and I need help figuring out how to use it.
At the top of the water line it's reading 1523 is that too much? Too little?
I have an ocean revive led
Tank is a 50 gallon 36x17x17
The pic is of the meter

 

[dbl]

Going to ask @saltyfilmfolks to jump in here for help. He's a good go to guy for measuring light.

 

[DAPG8GT]

I'm not sure a lux meter is really what you want for accuracy. Does it do other functions like Par readings? From what I remember it's not really applicable to usable par/pur it's more just for brightness. I've used mine ( phone) in a bare tank and it didn't relate to the apogee par readings whatsoever. Maybe there's a conversion or something or developments I don't know about but from what I remember it's basically useless..

And FYI most Android phones ( maybe Apple as well not sure) have a built in lux meter you can get to going into developer mode for free

 

[saltyfilmfolks]

it should be set to :
X100 and 200,000 using the mode button.


right this second my cube reads on the meter reads 145, that its 14500 lux.
I am not yet in my peak lighting.

 

[DanielCervantes]

Would should the peak lighting be at?
It's at 174 at the x100 and 200,000 setting right now

 

[saltyfilmfolks]

Would should the peak lighting be at?
It's at 174 at the x100 and 200,000 setting right now

the peak reading? that will vary on how bright your lights are. So if the settings are now correct, you have 17,400 lux.

If its sunny outside you should have between 80,000 and 100,000 lux. Thats actually a calibration. btw
Try walking around the house too and measure other lights.

 

[saltyfilmfolks]

I'm not sure a lux meter is really what you want for accuracy. Does it do other functions like Par readings? From what I remember it's not really applicable to usable par/pur it's more just for brightness. I've used mine ( phone) in a bare tank and it didn't relate to the apogee par readings whatsoever. Maybe there's a conversion or something or developments I don't know about but from what I remember it's basically useless..

And FYI most Android phones ( maybe Apple as well not sure) have a built in lux meter you can get to going into developer mode for free

Would should the peak lighting be at?
It's at 174 at the x100 and 200,000 setting right now

Deciding on a lux level is similar to deciding on Par level. youll have to do some research.
According to Apogee and D riddle there are some easy conversion numbers.
The sun is 53(I use 50 just for ease)
bluer Mh and T5 seem to fall in the 50 conversion as well
t5 and some MH in the 10,to 14k range run in the 40 range
From My and D riddle I have observed LED to be 60.

So
warm T5 Mh 40
Blue MH t5 sun 50
Led 60

So if Daniel has 18,000 lux on his led, divide by 60 300 par.

I have on my 55g, 40,000 lux so 600 par.
If i have a question on it I run the same number 40k / 50, or 40k by 55. its usually in the ball park
I personally have not yet seen an led that gets better than 60 as a conversion number.(save "white" only but nothing conclusive)

 

[DanielCervantes]

So I should be getting about 600 par at the top of the tank and around 200 towards the sandbed?

 

[saltyfilmfolks]

https://www.reef2reef.com/threads/par-to-lux-conversion-real-world-t5-numbers.281126/#post-3416674

 

[saltyfilmfolks]

So I should be getting about 600 par at the top of the tank and around 200 towards the sandbed?

it depends on your live stock and tank wants etc. Id say many try to have 100 to 200 on the sand bed, thats a bit old school. higher light. Me im old school.

so I look at and listen to folks about their light and look at these a LOT par charts

https://www.google.com/search?tbm=i...0ahUKEwjn6_Kalp3PAhUT0IMKHeUiBcgQ9C8ICQ&dpr=1

Also now that you have a number to work with you can eaily acclimate. as 3000 lux is close to 50 par. prob an ok number to increase by.

 

[DanielCervantes]

it depends on your live stock and tank wants etc. Id say many try to have 100 to 200 on the sand bed, thats a bit old school. higher light. Me im old school.

so I look at and listen to folks about their light and look at these a LOT par charts

https://www.google.com/search?tbm=i...0ahUKEwjn6_Kalp3PAhUT0IMKHeUiBcgQ9C8ICQ&dpr=1

Also now that you have a number to work with you can eaily acclimate. as 3000 lux is close to 50 par. prob an ok number to increase by.

Thanks salty!

 

[saltyfilmfolks]

Thanks salty!

any time!