Clown2Fish
Community Member
Has anyone ever used the Photone app to measure PAR readings in their aquarium? If yes it is accurate? I hard I need to use the right paper tho!
Thank you!
Thank you!
Photone app/ Par meter
- Thread starter Clown2Fish
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Frank61
Community Member
I've been using it and am quite happy with it.
My LFS let me test it in the store against their rental PAR meter (Apogee) and it was quite accurate using a paper filter. I've since ordered the Photone accessory diffuser and assume it is even more accurate.
Incidentally, I now also use it for our house plants and DIY hydroponics.
OP
OP
Clown2Fish
Community Member
Thank you, if it’s can save me some money that’s cool! Last question did you use in the app, the full spectrum Led or the blue/white Led?
OP
OP
Clown2Fish
Community Member
What was the type of filter paper, if you remember?
I asked about this awhile ago and was told it was too inconsistent for use by some respected people in the hobby.
Seems Amazon has some good knockoffs that apparently work.
https://humble.fish/community/threads/photone-turn-phone-into-par-meter.9747/
Seems Amazon has some good knockoffs that apparently work.
https://humble.fish/community/threads/photone-turn-phone-into-par-meter.9747/
AquaLogic
Well-Known Member
Perhaps there is variance between phone cameras. I just compared it, with a paper diffuser, to my Par meter using an iPhone 12 and it was exactly the same. So, was it a variance in phones? User error? (Even experts can make mistakes), or some other uncontrolled variable?
All I can say, is that with my phone, it's perfectly accurate.
I think its reasonable to say it could be different on different phones, different processing hardware and cameras, etc.
Lavey29
10K Club member
I used it and compared it to a par meter and it was fairly close but I only had my phone at the water surface and did not check the consistency under water the photone app was the reason I rented a par meter because my corals were struggling and photone app showed low par. Once I corrected my par my corals took off.
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rdirtytwo
Active Member
I could never get it to work properly on my Google Pixel 7 Pro. It was always inconsistent and when I eventually bought a PAR meter, it wasn't even close! It probably works well with some phones, just not mine.
Hello, I know this is an older post, but I just got the diffuser to use with this app, and am unsure of which setting in the app to use. Can you please help me with this? Is it one of the paid readings, like blue/ white LED? If so, I don’t mind paying for it, I just don’t know, and there is very little instruction that I can find.
Looking at the app it looks like if you want to use advanced features like extended Par/PPFD, you need to upgrade to Pro version. It comes with other perks too.
It looks like this app has come a long way, especially if you buy the diffuser. They even make mention of taking measurements under water
It looks like this app has come a long way, especially if you buy the diffuser. They even make mention of taking measurements under water
Thank you for the reply. Yeah I am hoping to use it in the water. I have a clear watertight bag to place the phone in.
penfold2
Active Member
The led settings are free, no payment is required. I use the blue/white setting because reef leds contain far more blue than a full spectrum led. Full spectrum is white, and blue/white is just full spectrum plus more blue, which is exactly what reef lights are.
I can not thank you enough for your help with this. I do use LED lights. So do you think it is worth getting the paid version then? I saw the blue/white setting. I do not mind at all paying for that if it will be the most accurate. Still MUCH cheaper than a par meter.
metro6775
Community Member
I downloaded the photone app today fully expecting that I needed add a diffuser. But according to the app it's stating that I do not need a diffuser.
During my research everything that I have ever read has talked about using a diffuser, but the app is saying I don't need a diffuser. I'm a little confused has anyone ever used the app without a diffuser?
During my research everything that I have ever read has talked about using a diffuser, but the app is saying I don't need a diffuser. I'm a little confused has anyone ever used the app without a diffuser?
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