PAR Readings For Planted Aquarium Lights

AquascapeGuide is working on compiling as much PAR data into one place as possible. If you'd like to participate, download the Photone app, crank your light up to 100% and take the readings at the depths noted below. If you have a fancy PAR meter, even better! You can email us your readings to AquascapeGuide@gmail.com. If more than one persons measures the same light, we are take an average of all the readings.

We talk about how to use the Photon app in our article "Use Your Smartphone As A PAR Meter With The Photone App"

Here is the deal with the information below. Just because a light has high PAR, doesn't mean its PUR (spectrum) is set up for growing plants. The best example we can give is putting a reef light on a planted aquarium. Reef lights can output a TON of PAR, but their spectrums are not optimized to grow plants. Similarly put, a Hyger 24/7 light even though it outputs 132 PAR at 12", doesn't have great PUR. This is what separates quality planted tank lights from inexpensive ones. You can read more about the differences of PAR and PUR in our Lighting Guide within Part 1 of our website.

The measurements below were either sourced online, or taken by hobbyists with a PAR meter, or using the Photone app. All have been taken with the light at 100% intensity, and straight underneath the light. The following table is best viewed on a computer, but can be scrolled side to side with your phone or tablet.

SOURCE	LIGHT	PAR @ 3"	6"	12"	18"
Online Data	Aqueon Planted Clip 12w	613	152	26	26
Online Data	Beamsworth EA 60 13w	115	56	36	23
Online Data	​Beamsworth DA 60 30w	332	179	96	64
Apogee Par Meter	Beamswork Vivio 36-40"	250	--	65	43
Samsung S22 Ultra	Chihiros WRGB II 90 Pro 100w	955	514	255	155
Apogee Par Meter	Current USA Satellite 25"	350	--	98	81
Online Data	Fluval 2.0 Aquasky 12w	215	122	50	26
Online Data	Fluval 2.0 Aquasky 18w	225	162	59	32
Online Data	Fluval 2.0 Aquasky 27w	235	173	64	38
Online Data	Fluval 2.0 Aquasky 35w	245	177	66	44
Online Data	Fluval Planted Nano 15w	690	295	85	42
Online Data	Fluval 3.0 22w	442	227	80	--
Online Data	Fluval 3.0 32w	453	252	107	--
3 Users	Fluval 3.0 46w	470	267	112	--
Online Data	Fluval 3.0 59w	543	288	136	--

SOURCE	LIGHT	PAR @ 3"	6"	12"	18"
​Apogee Par Meter	Hyger 24/7 Planted 36w	408	--	132	113
Online Data	Nicrew ClassicLED G1 15w			70
2 Users	Nicrew ClassicLED G2 27w	291	97	80	60
Online Data	Nicrew AquaLux 14w			65
Online Data	Nicrew C10 Plants 13w			56
Online Data	Nicrew SkyLED 18w	225	165	90	40
Online Data	Nicrew 2.0 15w	--	--	92	--
Samsung S22 Ultra	ONF Flat Nano+ 15w	492	290	87	​46
Online Data	ONF Flat Nano 15w	638	277	91	95
Online Data	TwinStar 90B 33w	286	245	126	95
Online Data	TwinStar 900E 60w	373	280	159	117
Online Data	TwinStar 900SA 65w	510	360	218	165
Samsung S22 Ultra	TwinStar 900S 65w	510	360	192	122
Online Data	Seaoura SR-618 18w	635	464
Samsung S22 Ultra	Seaoura SR 666 26w	451	277	124	72