Well I finally picked up a PAR meter. I have had it about two weeks now and have not really done much with it. I finally picked up three new 15K 250 watt XM bulbs for my display tank. Whipped out the PAR meter and tested the way too old 20K bulbs they all measured between 400-420 at the water surface directly below the bulbs. I started putting all of the bulbs in an heard one of them rattling as I pulled it from the box. First thought that it was broke. But all I could find was a small piece of glass loose inside the bulb, and could not tell where it had come from. Long story short went on and put the bulb in to see what it would do. It fired up just fine, so lets check everything with the PAR meter. Two new bulbs measured 650-660 PAR. But the bulb with glass piece in it 420, almost exactly the PAR of the old 20K bulb. If not for the PAR meter I would have thought I was just fine for a year.
My new gadget, already paying off.
- Thread starter spike
- Start date
Paid for itself already!
Great new toy!
