Uploaded November 2017 | Updated September 2026, 2 weeks ago
Why Use a PAR Meter in Your Planted Tanks? Apogee MQ 510 Par Meter Testing
Today Mike tests the PAR results in our planted tanks using the Apogee Instruments MQ-510 Quantum Sensor (PAR meter). This PAR meter is made for use in aquariums or underwater environments and is a very handy tool to have in your planted aquariums. This is not a required tool but a useful tool in certain situations.
Why use a par meter in your planted tanks?
It can help you fine tune your lighting and give you more information on the most ideal places to plant certain plants based on their unique lighting requirements. Some aquatic plants do better in low light while others prefer high light. You can use a PAR meter to figure out which areas in your tank provide the highest lighting as well as the lowest. This can help you decide where to place certain plants to achieve optimal results. It also helps you know if you need to adjust the height of your lighting and really works well to dial in LED lights to the most ideal setting for your planted aquarium needs.
Today we give you a demo of the PAR meter in action on our 75 gallon mega build planted tank, which houses our large Andinoacara Rivulatus cichlid. We are currently using 2 39W Giesemann Super Flora T5 bulbs.
We have adjusted the height of our T-5 lighting since our last test and have a lot more plant mass than when we first did a PAR test on this planted tank. During the first test we had used the Apogee SQ-520 Quantum PAR meter which we borrowed from our friend Kevin. The MQ 510 is a bit different. It comes with a handheld reader where the SQ-520 does not. The SQ 520 meter can be plugged into a computer for live results or otherwise can be used to take tests that are stored for later viewing on the computer. Both are highly accurate, easy to use sensors.
We were noticing some plants of the same type of plants in one area was doing better than the same plant in a different location. After looking at the PAR (Photosynthetically Active Radiation) results we could clearly see that one area was receiving higher light then the other, which was in a more shaded location. Now that we have this information we can make the changes we need to, to achieve optimal results all around. In this case we can either relocate the plant to a better area or try to cut away some of the dense plants that are providing shade to the area. It's clear that having this tool is really going to help us fine tune our lighting and help decide the best spot to put certain aquatic plants based on their needs.
We are also looking forward to testing this MQ-510 with different types of lights. This can also help you decide the most ideal type of light for your aquarium needs. Knowing the PAR results on different types of lights can really help make deciding which type of light to use easier.
We have had a t-8 running for several years on our goldfish tank and will be replacing it. We are going to PAR test the old bulb vs the new one to see how much of a loss of PAR we see over that period of time. It should be interesting to see the results.
Why Use a PAR Meter in Your Planted Tanks? Apogee MQ 510 Par Meter Testing
Today Mike tests the PAR results in our planted tanks using the Apogee Instruments MQ-510 Quantum Sensor (PAR meter). This PAR meter is made for use in aquariums or underwater environments and is a very handy tool to have in your planted aquariums. This is not a required tool but a useful tool in certain situations.
Why use a par meter in your planted tanks?
It can help you fine tune your lighting and give you more information on the most ideal places to plant certain plants based on their unique lighting requirements. Some aquatic plants do better in low light while others prefer high light. You can use a PAR meter to figure out which areas in your tank provide the highest lighting as well as the lowest. This can help you decide where to place certain plants to achieve optimal results. It also helps you know if you need to adjust the height of your lighting and really works well to dial in LED lights to the most ideal setting for your planted aquarium needs.
Today we give you a demo of the PAR meter in action on our 75 gallon mega build planted tank, which houses our large Andinoacara Rivulatus cichlid. We are currently using 2 39W Giesemann Super Flora T5 bulbs.
We have adjusted the height of our T-5 lighting since our last test and have a lot more plant mass than when we first did a PAR test on this planted tank. During the first test we had used the Apogee SQ-520 Quantum PAR meter which we borrowed from our friend Kevin. The MQ 510 is a bit different. It comes with a handheld reader where the SQ-520 does not. The SQ 520 meter can be plugged into a computer for live results or otherwise can be used to take tests that are stored for later viewing on the computer. Both are highly accurate, easy to use sensors.
We were noticing some plants of the same type of plants in one area was doing better than the same plant in a different location. After looking at the PAR (Photosynthetically Active Radiation) results we could clearly see that one area was receiving higher light then the other, which was in a more shaded location. Now that we have this information we can make the changes we need to, to achieve optimal results all around. In this case we can either relocate the plant to a better area or try to cut away some of the dense plants that are providing shade to the area. It's clear that having this tool is really going to help us fine tune our lighting and help decide the best spot to put certain aquatic plants based on their needs.
We are also looking forward to testing this MQ-510 with different types of lights. This can also help you decide the most ideal type of light for your aquarium needs. Knowing the PAR results on different types of lights can really help make deciding which type of light to use easier.
We have had a t-8 running for several years on our goldfish tank and will be replacing it. We are going to PAR test the old bulb vs the new one to see how much of a loss of PAR we see over that period of time. It should be interesting to see the results.
