PAR measurements

[RadUReefer]

Hi all still pretty new to reefing.

 

[RadUReefer]

hi all still pretty new to reefing..unfortunately my budget is currently keeping me from purchasing the lighting that I really wanted so I went with some black box LEDs. I was able to secure a PAR meter at a local fish store so that I could take some measurements I'm curious ,and go easy on me, do I measure par with both the blue and the white lights on or just the white?

 

[thewackyreefer]

You'll want to measure however you plan on actually running the lights.

 

[RadUReefer]

Ok wasn't sure ...as the old light that came with the tank was registering 0 with just attenic blues...wasn't sure if blues pick up on the par meter or if the old light is just really that bad.

 

[Reesj]

Ok wasn't sure ...as the old light that came with the tank was registering 0 with just attenic blues...wasn't sure if blues pick up on the par meter or if the old light is just really that bad.

If it is registering 0 though might be something wrong with PAr meter or how you are measuring it.

 

[EMeyer]

Blue LEDs are detected but not as strongly. I like this tool for correcting PAR measurements for LED

https://www.apogeeinstruments.com/quantum-par-sensor-spectral-error-estimation-tool/Dim blue lights used for moonlight will show up as nearly zero PAR because they truly don't put out much light. Bright blue lights should be detected.