Helpful Resources
Introduction
Congratulations on your purchase of the Neptune Systems PAR Monitoring Kit (PMK)! This kit has our new Advanced Sensor Module (ASM), PAR sensor, and Real Reef Rock to allow you to continuously monitor the light level in your aquarium.
In this PAR Monitoring Kit Get Started guide we will:
- Prepare your Apex for you PMK Kit
- Install your PMK
- Review monitoring with your PMK
- Demonstrate a possible alert with your PMK
Preparing your Apex for the ASM
1. Go to the AquaController Display and on the first main menu select ‘Self Test’
2. Look for the firmware version, it required to be greater than or equal to 4.40. If it reads something less than 4.40, you MUST update the firmware on your Apex before proceeding.
Connect your ASM module to your Apex
Connect the supplied 6′ Aquabus cable to either connector on ASM. Connect the other end to any available aquabus port on any of your Apex modules.
The ASM to your system it should now have a green status light.
Connect your PAR Sensor to your ASM
Connect the PAR sensor to your ASM module.
Prepare the System for the PAR Sensor
Once connected, you must tell the ASM that a PAR sensor is connected. You will only need to do this once. You will be using the AquaController display menu. This cannot be done through APEX Fusion.
Use the AquaController display menu: Go to Setup –> Module Setup –> Config Module –> ASM_# – Set Probe Type. ‘Par’ will usually be preselected; if it is not, use the up or down buttons to scroll until ‘Par’ is shown. Press the center button, then press the Home button
Place the PAR Meter in the Rock
- Remove the Green Cap of the top of your PAR sensor
- Turn your Real Reef Probe Rock upside down.
Slide the PAR sensor into the Real Reef Rock, sensor window first, and line up the probe wire in the slot in the rock The PAR meter should fit snugly in the rock.
Configure your Apex Display Module for PAR
We want to be able to see your immediate PAR measurements to get an idea for placement. Click here for video tutorial on ‘How to Customize your Display’.
System
Display Setup
Home Display
Page 1
Probe Line 2
Left or Right (navigate via right arrow)
PARxY (navigate via down arrow)
OK
Save
Home
Note: The “Y” in “PARxY” will be a unique number for you system and setup
View your PAR Measurement
On the display module PAR should now be displayed. If it is not, then use the left or right arrow buttons on the display module till there is a single square in the top right corner of your display module.
Place the PAR Sensor in your Aquarium
Place the PAR Sensor/Rock in your aquarium where you want to monitor PAR Measurements.
A Note About your PAR Measurements
You’ll notice that your PAR floats approximately +/- 5 around an average value. This is normal with PAR measurements as there are many factors that can deflect light photons. When monitoring instantaneous measurements simply take the average value of the PAR.
Monitoring your PAR in Apex Fusion
Now let’s integrate your PAR measurements in Apex Fusion. To get started with this, navigate to ApexFusion.com
Unlock your Unused Tile Bin
On your Apex Fusion Dashboard select the unlock button in the top right corner of your Dashboard and your unused tile bin will appear
Place your PAR Measurements on your Dashboard
Scroll through the unused tile bin till you find the probe tile called “PARxY.” In our example, the probe is called PARx14. Select this probe tile and drag it onto your Apex Fusion Dashboard.
Lock your Apex Fusion Dashboard
Relock your Apex Fusion dashboard by selecting the “lock icon.”
Neptune Systems PMK
This completes the basic installation of your Neptune Systems PMK!