# PAR Meter Recommendation Please **URL:** \ **Category:** Lighting\ **Created:** [February 7, 2024, 4:23pm UTC](https://ilgmforum.com/t/par-meter-recommendation-please/108399 "2024-02-07T16:23:48Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 14\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Bluesman54](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/growingmarijuana/user_avatar/ilgmforum.com/bluesman54/32/967937_2.png) [@Bluesman54](https://ilgmforum.com/u/Bluesman54)\ **Post date:** [February 7, 2024, 4:23pm UTC](https://ilgmforum.com/t/par-meter-recommendation-please/108399/1 "2024-02-07T16:23:48Z")
Continuing the discussion from [New Grower, Baby Boomer](https://ilgmforum.com/t/new-grower-baby-boomer/108398): Also I’m thinking of getting a PAR meter. Any recommendations (except for that expensive $500 one). I can’t afford that one, but I saw plenty of them under a $100 or so. ---
**Author:** ![Poseidon1](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/growingmarijuana/user_avatar/ilgmforum.com/poseidon1/32/763851_2.png) [@Poseidon1](https://ilgmforum.com/u/Poseidon1)\ **Post date:** [February 7, 2024, 5:51pm UTC](https://ilgmforum.com/t/par-meter-recommendation-please/108399/2 "2024-02-07T17:51:12Z")
If you got the photone app, it can be pretty accurate. Can even be calibrated if you got a honest 3rd party ppfd chart. I use it, its free on Android ---
**Author:** ![Bluesman54](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/growingmarijuana/user_avatar/ilgmforum.com/bluesman54/32/967937_2.png) [@Bluesman54](https://ilgmforum.com/u/Bluesman54)\ **Post date:** [February 7, 2024, 6:12pm UTC](https://ilgmforum.com/t/par-meter-recommendation-please/108399/3 "2024-02-07T18:12:02Z")
I have an apple phone. I will check the App Store. That would be great!!! Thanks ---
**Author:** ![Poseidon1](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/growingmarijuana/user_avatar/ilgmforum.com/poseidon1/32/763851_2.png) [@Poseidon1](https://ilgmforum.com/u/Poseidon1)\ **Post date:** [February 7, 2024, 7:24pm UTC](https://ilgmforum.com/t/par-meter-recommendation-please/108399/4 "2024-02-07T19:24:44Z")
The bad part is with apple you need a paper diffuser i believe. A specific weight paper, i believe its 22# but read the info to be sure. ---
**Author:** ![Bluesman54](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/growingmarijuana/user_avatar/ilgmforum.com/bluesman54/32/967937_2.png) [@Bluesman54](https://ilgmforum.com/u/Bluesman54)\ **Post date:** [February 7, 2024, 11:49pm UTC](https://ilgmforum.com/t/par-meter-recommendation-please/108399/5 "2024-02-07T23:49:55Z")
Ok, Thanks! I got it! However you are right. Requires 22# paper. All I had on hand was 20 and 24. So I used the 20 lb. That being said with my new seedlings. What Par value should I shoot for? I left it at about 900 when the phone is on the pots. They are up and looking good. About 8 days since sprouting. ---
**Author:** ![Poseidon1](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/growingmarijuana/user_avatar/ilgmforum.com/poseidon1/32/763851_2.png) [@Poseidon1](https://ilgmforum.com/u/Poseidon1)\ **Post date:** [February 7, 2024, 11:53pm UTC](https://ilgmforum.com/t/par-meter-recommendation-please/108399/6 "2024-02-07T23:53:48Z")
900? Better dial that back some. As far as the variance with wrong paper im not sure how to factor that. Most say 300,600,900 for seedling, veg, flower. I like 300, 500, 950. If you got a good ppfd 3rd party chart i would check for accuracy. ---
**Author:** ![Assman](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/growingmarijuana/user_avatar/ilgmforum.com/assman/32/968113_2.png) [@Assman](https://ilgmforum.com/u/Assman)\ **Post date:** [February 8, 2024, 12:44am UTC](https://ilgmforum.com/t/par-meter-recommendation-please/108399/7 "2024-02-08T00:44:45Z")
Photon par meter 100%, FREE in app store ---
**Author:** ![Low](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/growingmarijuana/user_avatar/ilgmforum.com/low/32/1169155_2.png) [@Low](https://ilgmforum.com/u/Low)\ **Post date:** [February 8, 2024, 1:07am UTC](https://ilgmforum.com/t/par-meter-recommendation-please/108399/8 "2024-02-08T01:07:16Z")
The photone changes drastically on iPhone depending on paper. When it’s the correct paper, the results are different from reem to reem. I compared against a photone and it was around 100-200 points away from an actual meter. I believe it was reading higher. But every single phone will read differently. For apple there is no calibration option. At least there wasn’t when I was using it. I tried both sun and led settings and they are pretty equally un accurate. That said I did do several runs with photone and had decent results. I realized how different the readings were after getting a meter. Some meters: I’ve not seen this one used but it’s the cheapest I’ve seen, decent ratings [https://www.amazon.com/Full-Spectrum-Precision-Photosynthetic-Activity-400-700nm/dp/B0BTYW7SDP/ref=mp\_s\_a\_1\_3?crid=GJCKOB7IZA9U&keywords=par%2Bmeter&qid=1707354233&sprefix=par%2Bmeter%2Caps%2C124&sr=8-3&th=1&psc=1](https://www.amazon.com/Full-Spectrum-Precision-Photosynthetic-Activity-400-700nm/dp/B0BTYW7SDP/ref=mp_s_a_1_3?tag=ilovegrowingm-20) The one I use [https://www.amazon.com/PHOTOBIO-LGBQM2-Advanced-Quantum-Micromols/dp/B08HPGLZHL/ref=mp\_s\_a\_1\_4?crid=GJCKOB7IZA9U&keywords=par+meter&qid=1707354233&sprefix=par+meter%2Caps%2C124&sr=8-4](https://www.amazon.com/PHOTOBIO-LGBQM2-Advanced-Quantum-Micromols/dp/B08HPGLZHL/ref=mp_s_a_1_4?tag=ilovegrowingm-20) The one everyone wants to use [https://www.amazon.com/Apogee-Instruments-Full-Spectrum-Quantum-Telescopic/dp/B09MYDTW5C/ref=mp\_s\_a\_1\_13?crid=GJCKOB7IZA9U&keywords=par+meter&qid=1707354233&sprefix=par+meter%2Caps%2C124&sr=8-13](https://www.amazon.com/Apogee-Instruments-Full-Spectrum-Quantum-Telescopic/dp/B09MYDTW5C/ref=mp_s_a_1_13?tag=ilovegrowingm-20) And this is the new improved version of 👆🏼 measures a wider spectrum [https://www.amazon.com/Apogee-Instruments-MQ-610-Telescopic-Greenhouse/dp/B09MSJLS9G/ref=mp\_s\_a\_1\_3?crid=C1OY6WAOS18R&keywords=epar+meter&qid=1707354929&sprefix=epar+meter%2Caps%2C191&sr=8-3](https://www.amazon.com/Apogee-Instruments-MQ-610-Telescopic-Greenhouse/dp/B09MSJLS9G/ref=mp_s_a_1_3?tag=ilovegrowingm-20) ---
**Author:** ![Bluesman54](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/growingmarijuana/user_avatar/ilgmforum.com/bluesman54/32/967937_2.png) [@Bluesman54](https://ilgmforum.com/u/Bluesman54)\ **Post date:** [February 8, 2024, 1:24am UTC](https://ilgmforum.com/t/par-meter-recommendation-please/108399/9 "2024-02-08T01:24:57Z")
I got that wrong. I went back and checked. I had it around 500. I dialed it back to 400. Thank you very much! ---
**Author:** ![Bluesman54](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/growingmarijuana/user_avatar/ilgmforum.com/bluesman54/32/967937_2.png) [@Bluesman54](https://ilgmforum.com/u/Bluesman54)\ **Post date:** [February 8, 2024, 1:29am UTC](https://ilgmforum.com/t/par-meter-recommendation-please/108399/10 "2024-02-08T01:29:11Z")
Yep. That’s the one I want. The Apogee. But the one you have will more than suffice. However I think I’m using this months budget on an Affinity T-6 pro. I think the Phone app will do for now. ---
**Author:** ![Poseidon1](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/growingmarijuana/user_avatar/ilgmforum.com/poseidon1/32/763851_2.png) [@Poseidon1](https://ilgmforum.com/u/Poseidon1)\ **Post date:** [February 8, 2024, 1:30am UTC](https://ilgmforum.com/t/par-meter-recommendation-please/108399/11 "2024-02-08T01:30:14Z")
I think the calibrate part of photone is a newer option. I dont remember in the past either, but then i got a new phone. I love the calibrate part bc i have a screen protector on mine, and at 15" dead center of a hlg 350r board…its 982ppfd according to chart. So i feel mine is pretty accurate, i hope lol. ---
**Author:** ![Skydiver](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/growingmarijuana/user_avatar/ilgmforum.com/skydiver/32/504956_2.png) [@Skydiver](https://ilgmforum.com/u/Skydiver)\ **Post date:** [February 14, 2024, 3:16pm UTC](https://ilgmforum.com/t/par-meter-recommendation-please/108399/12 "2024-02-14T15:16:40Z")
Have you been happy with the one you use? I was also considering this one. ![IMG_2210](https://global.discourse-cdn.com/growingmarijuana/original/4X/7/6/1/7616fc09545f55ae094947e3be0274e345156c88.jpeg) The least expensive one you listed for $85 would be hard to read with the sensor attached to the display. Thanks for any input you might have ---
**Author:** ![Low](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/growingmarijuana/user_avatar/ilgmforum.com/low/32/1169155_2.png) [@Low](https://ilgmforum.com/u/Low)\ **Post date:** [February 14, 2024, 3:57pm UTC](https://ilgmforum.com/t/par-meter-recommendation-please/108399/13 "2024-02-14T15:57:40Z")
I’ve never used it but as long as the reviews are good I’d be willing to try it. 🤙🏼 ---
**Author:** ![Bluesman54](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/growingmarijuana/user_avatar/ilgmforum.com/bluesman54/32/967937_2.png) [@Bluesman54](https://ilgmforum.com/u/Bluesman54)\ **Post date:** [February 15, 2024, 12:10am UTC](https://ilgmforum.com/t/par-meter-recommendation-please/108399/14 "2024-02-15T00:10:05Z")
I ordered the diffuser that clips over the phone camera for Photone. I think that is close enough. It hasn’t arrived yet so I use the paper diffuser. Right now I set the PAR on 600. I am on day 19 now. I’m getting all my ducks in a row for adding nutrients . Here is how they looked yesterday. ![IMG_2103](https://global.discourse-cdn.com/growingmarijuana/original/4X/3/b/4/3b43ac8bf0bf91704d0b2a5f6b94c29b80662514.jpeg) ![IMG_2102](https://global.discourse-cdn.com/growingmarijuana/original/4X/9/5/f/95f2d6558cc5dc929bb7c1b54687083e017bb935.jpeg) ![IMG_2101](https://global.discourse-cdn.com/growingmarijuana/original/4X/b/3/6/b36a777b481589d27ed901a8f1396efc4f5332ea.jpeg) ![IMG_2100](https://global.discourse-cdn.com/growingmarijuana/original/4X/2/8/a/28afddc285c46e3c75fc704909b858924bf0adc8.jpeg) ![IMG_2099](https://global.discourse-cdn.com/growingmarijuana/original/4X/4/8/2/482c99aa4658468ca0d22b25804483daa8e4bfe3.jpeg)