I just bought a Apogee MQ-500 quantum par meter! Any good videos?

mikaroni

mikaroni

Active Member
I just bought a Apogee MQ-500 quantum par meter! Anyone know of any videos on how to best use this device when I get it in the mail? I was trying to find videos on how to use it for LED light height, and other uses it has for growing.

Strangely, I can't find any really videos on it. All the videos end up being lux meters :o
Or if you have advice on how to best utilize it, I'd like to hear that as well.
 
MidnightSun72

MidnightSun72

Well-Known Member
mikaroni said:
I just bought a Apogee MQ-500 quantum par meter! Anyone know of any videos on how to best use this device when I get it in the mail? I was trying to find videos on how to use it for LED light height, and other uses it has for growing.

Strangely, I can't find any really videos on it. All the videos end up being lux meters :o
Or if you have advice on how to best utilize it, I'd like to hear that as well.
Click to expand...
For the most accuracy make sure your fixtures are hanging straight or as they will be during the grow. And measure on a Flat even surface so the sensor is not tilted one way or another from reading to reading.
Then you just check all the areas of your grow and make sure they meet your minimum par requirements.
You can then move or add lights as required for uniform light coverage. Once the grow is kind of set up you'll park that meter and not really use it until you change your light configuration again.
 
vostok

vostok

Well-Known Member
mikaroni said:
I just bought a Apogee MQ-500 quantum par meter! Anyone know of any videos on how to best use this device when I get it in the mail? I was trying to find videos on how to use it for LED light height, and other uses it has for growing.

Strangely, I can't find any really videos on it. All the videos end up being lux meters :o
Or if you have advice on how to best utilize it, I'd like to hear that as well.
Click to expand...
the bugbee vids on YT are worth the look getting to know your DLI/Umol etc

how much it cost and where you shop

cheers
 
mikaroni

mikaroni

Active Member
vostok said:
the bugbee vids on YT are worth the look getting to know your DLI/Umol etc

how much it cost and where you shop

cheers
Click to expand...
I got it on amazon. Was definitely an investment, but I feel like I will use it a lot. Paid about 650 after tax. I feel like it would give me an upper-hand at getting better at being a grower. Plus, I could now go over to friends houses and help them set up more easily too.
 
vostok

vostok

Well-Known Member
mikaroni said:
I got it on amazon. Was definitely an investment, but I feel like I will use it a lot. Paid about 650 after tax. I feel like it would give me an upper-hand at getting better at being a grower. Plus, I could now go over to friends houses and help them set up more easily too.
Click to expand...
650 is a lot of donkey turds my way tho I do convert lumens to u mols by ...x1,5 its rough it may work ...we wait an see ...lol

cheers
 
mikaroni

mikaroni

Active Member
I see there is a lot of bias, likely regarding the cost of it. I decided to splurge and buy it because being able to properly measure light seems pretty important. I understand that a lot of you probably got the hang of it, and that's cool. I know that a good par meter will help me increase my yields. Removing the guesswork with lighting seems pretty huge to me. And I feel it goes beyond that. I can keep a perfect eye on how much light intensity my plants are getting and adjust accurately. Seeing as LED lights are the new way of doing things and only a quantum par meter can truly give you damn near exact measurements, I think it's only fair to assume that this piece of equipment will do me well, as I plan to make this a long-term hobby.

Sure, there are countless other things I could have bought that most would consider better for my value, like hydroponic systems and whatnot. But why not a par meter? Can you say that if one fell into your lap you wouldn't use it regularly in your grows?
 
hotrodharley

hotrodharley

Well-Known Member
mikaroni said:
I see there is a lot of bias, likely regarding the cost of it. I decided to splurge and buy it because being able to properly measure light seems pretty important. I understand that a lot of you probably got the hang of it, and that's cool. I know that a good par meter will help me increase my yields. Removing the guesswork with lighting seems pretty huge to me. And I feel it goes beyond that. I can keep a perfect eye on how much light intensity my plants are getting and adjust accurately. Seeing as LED lights are the new way of doing things and only a quantum par meter can truly give you damn near exact measurements, I think it's only fair to assume that this piece of equipment will do me well, as I plan to make this a long-term hobby.

Sure, there are countless other things I could have bought that most would consider better for my value, like hydroponic systems and whatnot. But why not a par meter?
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Dude, it’s your money and your grow. Many comments are made for the benefit of the lurkers. People seeking information later. Let us know how you like it.
 
mikaroni

mikaroni

Active Member
hotrodharley said:
Dude, it’s your money and your grow. Many comments are made for the benefit of the lurkers. People seeking information later. Let us know how you like it.
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Yeah, totally agree. I wasn't trying to be snarky or standoffish. At least that's not how it sounded in my head. Just my honest opinions. I really do want to know what you all think. Mic dropping on me or not :)
 
MidnightSun72

MidnightSun72

Well-Known Member
mikaroni said:
I see there is a lot of bias, likely regarding the cost of it. I decided to splurge and buy it because being able to properly measure light seems pretty important. I understand that a lot of you probably got the hang of it, and that's cool. I know that a good par meter will help me increase my yields. Removing the guesswork with lighting seems pretty huge to me. And I feel it goes beyond that. I can keep a perfect eye on how much light intensity my plants are getting and adjust accurately. Seeing as LED lights are the new way of doing things and only a quantum par meter can truly give you damn near exact measurements, I think it's only fair to assume that this piece of equipment will do me well, as I plan to make this a long-term hobby.

Sure, there are countless other things I could have bought that most would consider better for my value, like hydroponic systems and whatnot. But why not a par meter? Can you say that if one fell into your lap you wouldn't use it regularly in your grows?
Click to expand...
No one will be able to convince you otherwise, but I did tell you a lux meter would be enough for your needs. I think once you get a few flowering cycles under your belt you'll see how underwhelming of an advantage it is to have such an expensive meter, vs having a tent with better zippers, a light with more power or dimmer, more fans and ventilation in the grow room. All these things go way further in terms of giving you success than knowing the difference between the par value and the approximation you get with the lux meter.

Either way if you feel justified in spending the money the truth is none of us are paying your mortgage so you do what you like.

It's the type of device that pays for itself when it's part of a much bigger facility that would normally absorb the cost of a meter as negligible and not worth As much as the entire rest of the setup. Lol
 
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hotrodharley

hotrodharley

Well-Known Member
mikaroni said:
Yeah, totally agree. I wasn't trying to be snarky or standoffish. At least that's not how it sounded in my head. Just my honest opinions. I really do want to know what you all think. Mic dropping on me or not :)
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Honestly I expected the pros here to be using what you purchased. Or at least that quality. When I did wrench on shit it was with SnapOn and Mac Tools.
Hydrofarm seems Harbor Freight.

I’m going to ask why these guys are using the cheap units. I asked them because I am considering buying one.
 
hotrodharley

hotrodharley

Well-Known Member
Reasons they might use the cheapies?

Bought in volume by the business owners

Too many get squashed or lost

Or maybe they’re perfectly acceptable for us to use. I’ll let you know.
 
MidnightSun72

MidnightSun72

Well-Known Member
hotrodharley said:
Reasons they might use the cheapies?

Bought in volume by the business owners

Too many get squashed or lost

Or maybe they’re perfectly acceptable for us to use. I’ll let you know.
Click to expand...
I know "professional" growers who don't use any meter at all. They just set their lights at prescribed spacing and go worry about growing weed. Lol

for white spectrum lights the lux meter is more than good enough of an approximation to know you are near the par you want. And one thing it will definitely tell you is how even your coverage is just as a good as a par meter will. Either way you have to adjust the light to suit the plant.

I have an AK47 that turns out to be absolute garbage unless I give it so much light that same amount makes other plants sick. So either I think success is a mater of adjusting to your plants Needs.
 
bk78

bk78

Well-Known Member
mikaroni said:
I see there is a lot of bias, likely regarding the cost of it. I decided to splurge and buy it because being able to properly measure light seems pretty important. I understand that a lot of you probably got the hang of it, and that's cool. I know that a good par meter will help me increase my yields. Removing the guesswork with lighting seems pretty huge to me. And I feel it goes beyond that. I can keep a perfect eye on how much light intensity my plants are getting and adjust accurately. Seeing as LED lights are the new way of doing things and only a quantum par meter can truly give you damn near exact measurements, I think it's only fair to assume that this piece of equipment will do me well, as I plan to make this a long-term hobby.

Sure, there are countless other things I could have bought that most would consider better for my value, like hydroponic systems and whatnot. But why not a par meter? Can you say that if one fell into your lap you wouldn't use it regularly in your grows?
Click to expand...
Lots get butt hurt because they can’t afford the finer things. Nice scoop man.
 
bk78

bk78

Well-Known Member
Brettman said:
No haha, he was an absolute moron who tried to lie and say he has this giant grow op. He must have me blocked now because I can’t tag him lol.
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He got booted the day after he ratted me out and I got turtled
 
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