PAR ratings for bulbs

[jdmneon]

is there any way to determine the PAR rating of a bulb short of actually measuring it using expensive light intensity instruments. Do the company's that make the bulbs post these ratings?

or does someone have a link to a database that has them all written down?

I'm kind of lost here because people keep repeating that higher kelvin temperatures mean lower PAR but not one of them has ever shown me any numbers so I remain skeptical..

 

[Len]

Dr. Sanjay Joshi has done tests under controlled settings. His articles are all published in Advanced Aquarist Online Magazine (www.advancedaquarist.com).

Click here to see his articles directly

He also has his own website that has PAR values but with less info then his original articles:
http://www.reeflightinginfo.arvixe.com/

There are "affordable" PAR meters such as the Apogee meter that you can use to get a rough idea about the real-life PAR over your tank.