Don't own a par meter, but I think often the coral can communicate a lot on its own. Stretching to the light? Slowly raise intensity. Receding? May be too much light if nutrients are in check. A par meter is the best way to verify though!
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Check your LFS. Mine loaned me one for free for a week, as I was a regular customer.I'm still learning but it seems the Par meter would be the safe way to go and although expensive you can rent for a week from BRS, according to one of their sites.
Were you surprised at how low or high your numbers were? Just curious.I was one of those who thought my eyes were better than a par meter and could tell proper PAR and spectrum, UNTIL I tried using a PAR meter, and boy was I surprised!
While I was sort of close in my guess, a PAR meter helped me to dial in those numbers and sincerely helped in optimization and understanding of my reef environment.
I would highly recommend it to anyone interested in knowing your exact readings. In fact I think it should be a tool that all hobbyists use, specially when starting a new tank.
Absolutely...there's no doubt my LEDs saves me money in Southern California electric prices, even with a $500 par meter. You also have to calculate in the cost to cool off your tank if you have MHs. A heater that is constantly on for 8-12 hours year round or a heater that only comes on during winter and only when warming is needed. Plus there's no regular bulb replacements (MH and T5 wise, which cost $$$ and are only to go up in the future because of government laws phasing them out, directly or indirectly) with LEDS and no ballast replacement (average every 2 years or so for MH).So let me undertsand this!
Instead of a 1200 usd light fixture plus bulbs, you need to get 3 -899 light units and a 500 par meter to run these new light so you can save some electricity?
This is how I gauge when it's time to change my t5 bulbs, except I use a $15 lux meter. Works perfectly.Actually coming from someone who ran metal halide for 10+ years it saved me on buying lamps. The rule has allways been to change lamps once a year. On average checking it every so often my Radium and Phoenix lamps where lasting 18 months and where changed after they dropped 10%. I had one lamp last 24 months, and one only lasted 12. Doesn't take long to pay for the $400 meter.