light meters anyone?

[theonella]

After reading a lot of discussions on light intensity, I don't see a lot of people using light meters. I bought one for around $40, and it is essentially a solar cell on the end of a stick, that you can place anywhere in your tank. The read-out is in Lux. For example with 1 55W 6500K PC + 1 55W actinic PC I get about 15,000 Lux at the surface. Anyone else find these devices useful?

I think it might help in discussions of light intensity to have a quantitative measure.

 

[SteveL1]

Interested in make and model of lightmeter you purchased and where from. I think this is an important tool that should be a common in reefkeeping circles. I intend to get one but I want to be sure I can submerge the cell to take readings below the surface.

Info appreciated.

Steve

 

[DJ88]

I have both a Gossen Panalux Lux meter and a PAR meter. Great pieces of equipment. Lets you get a very good idea of how much light you are actually giving your corals. Especially good if you have a submersible sensor so you can see how the light penetration decreases as you go deeper into your tank.

The PAR meter was bought from Apogee Innstruments and I found the Lux meter for sale here in town for a steal.

I have both for a lighting test I am running on various VHO ballasts and light output over a period of continuous lighting. Glad I have them. makes life easy.

[ February 28, 2002: Message edited by: DJ88 ]</p>