- Sku: ITC-PARWISE
- Vendor: ITC
ITC Reefculture PARwise PAR and Spectrum Meter
The ITC Reefculture PARwise is a submersible quantum sensor and spectrometer that ends the guesswork on aquarium lighting. Drop the IP68 sensor head in the tank, plug it into a Windows, Mac or Android device over USB, and read PAR, Kelvin, LUX, the full spectrum curve and DLI from one palm-sized tool, in air or underwater. The Standard covers 380 to 800 nm. The Pro extends to 350 to 1100 nm and adds cPUR, a coral-specific usable-light reading, plus pigment analysis and separate air, freshwater and saltwater calibrations. Dial in your AquaIllumination lighting, browse our water testing tools, or shop more aquarium equipment.
How It Works
A cosine-corrected optical engine behind the sensor window captures light from the full hemisphere above it, the way a coral or leaf receives it, and splits that light into its spectrum. The app turns that curve into the readings you use: PAR (photosynthetic photon flux density in µmol/m²/s), color temperature in Kelvin, LUX, peak wavelength and Daily Light Integral once you enter your photoperiod. The Pro goes further, weighting the spectrum by what coral pigments actually absorb to report cPUR and a cPUR light integral, and it can be calibrated for air, freshwater or saltwater so readings stay accurate in each medium.
Features on Both Models
Choose Your Model
Select a model in the tab section below for its full spec sheet.
| Spec | PARwise Standard | PARwise Pro |
|---|---|---|
| Spectral range | 380 to 800 nm | 350 to 1100 nm |
| Core readings | PAR, Kelvin, LUX, spectrum, DLI, peak wavelength, hue | All Standard readings plus cPUR, cPUR light integral, YPF, CQS, CRI, purity, dominant wavelength, CIE x/y |
| cPUR (coral usable light) | No | Yes |
| Pigment analysis | No | Peridinin, fucoxanthin, chlorophyll a/b/c/d, beta-carotene |
| Calibrations | Air and underwater | Air, freshwater and saltwater |
| PAR range | 0 to 6,000 | 0 to 6,000 |
| Waterproof rating | IP68 | IP68 |
| Size and weight | 85 x 40 x 20 mm, 130 g | 85 x 40 x 20 mm, 130 g |
| SKU | ITC-PARWISE | ITC-PARWISEPRO |
Detailed Model Specifications
Click a model below to view its full specification sheet.
PARwise Standard · PAR, Kelvin, LUX, spectrum, DLI
The original PARwise. Everything most hobbyists need to set intensity and spectrum on a reef or planted tank: PAR at coral level, color temperature, LUX, a full visible spectrum graph, peak wavelength, hue and DLI, from a sensor you can leave underwater while you adjust the light.
| Specification | Value |
|---|---|
| SKU | ITC-PARWISE |
| Readings | PAR (PPFD), Kelvin, LUX, spectrum, DLI, peak wavelength, hue |
| Spectral range | 380 to 800 nm |
| PAR range | 0 to 6,000 µmol/m²/s |
| Kelvin range | 1,000 to 10,000 K |
| LUX range | 2 to 300,000 |
| Optical measurement | Point light source |
| Light sources | Natural, LED, fluorescent, incandescent, gas vapour, HID |
| Repeatability | Under 0.5% |
| Calibration uncertainty | Plus or minus 5% |
| Cosine corrector | Directional, replaceable |
| Temperature response | Auto compensating |
| Ingress protection | IP68, fully submersible |
| Connection | USB to Windows, macOS or Android, web-based app |
| Device size | 85 x 40 x 20 mm |
| Device weight | 130 g |
| Made in | United Kingdom |
PARwise Pro · cPUR, 350 to 1100 nm, pigment analysis
The PARwise Pro widens the window to 350 to 1100 nm, near UV-A through infrared, so it can show wasted energy and heat as well as usable light. Its headline reading is cPUR, Coral Photosynthetically Usable Radiation, which counts only the wavelengths corals use for photosynthesis and color, and it adds pigment-level analysis, YPF, CQS, CRI, purity, dominant wavelength and CIE x/y, with separate calibrations for air, freshwater and saltwater.
| Specification | Value |
|---|---|
| SKU | ITC-PARWISEPRO |
| Readings | cPUR, cPUR light integral, PAR, LUX, DLI, Kelvin, YPF, CQS, CRI, purity, dominant wavelength, CIE x/y, spectrum |
| Spectral range | 350 to 1100 nm |
| Pigment analysis | Peridinin, fucoxanthin, chlorophyll a, b, c and d, beta-carotene |
| Calibrations | Air, freshwater, saltwater |
| PAR range | 0 to 6,000 µmol/m²/s |
| Kelvin range | 1,000 to 10,000 K |
| LUX range | 2 to 300,000 |
| Optical measurement | Point light source |
| Light sources | Natural, LED, fluorescent, incandescent, gas vapour, HID |
| Repeatability | Under 0.5% |
| Calibration uncertainty | Plus or minus 5% |
| Cosine corrector | Directional, replaceable |
| Temperature response | Auto compensating |
| Ingress protection | IP68, fully submersible |
| Connection | USB to Windows, macOS or Android, web-based app |
| Device size | 85 x 40 x 20 mm |
| Device weight | 130 g |
| Made in | United Kingdom |
| Packaged | 24.5 x 15.5 x 5.5 cm, 215 g |
Which Model Is Right for You?
PARwise Standard if you want to set PAR targets, match Kelvin across fixtures and check spectrum on a reef or planted tank. It answers the questions most hobbyists actually have.
PARwise Pro if you grow demanding SPS, tune custom spectra, compare fixtures for efficiency, or want the cPUR number that tells you how much of your light corals can use. The extra range also shows UV and infrared that the Standard cannot see.
Taking Good Readings
Hold the sensor flat at the height of the coral or plant you care about, not at the surface, and take readings at several points across the tank rather than one under the fixture. Keep the cosine corrector clean and free of bubbles. Log your photoperiod in the app so DLI is meaningful, and compare fixtures at the same depth and distance. When you change a light, change one channel at a time and re-read.
Recommended Pairings
FAQ
Does it work with an iPhone?
The app runs on Windows, macOS and Android over USB. iOS is not listed as supported.
Can I use it in a freshwater planted tank?
Yes. PAR, spectrum and DLI matter just as much for plants, and the Pro has a dedicated freshwater calibration.
Is the sensor really submersible?
Yes, it is rated IP68. Rinse it in fresh water after saltwater use and dry the connector before storing.
What is cPUR?
Coral Photosynthetically Usable Radiation. Instead of counting every photon between 400 and 700 nm like PAR does, it weights the spectrum by what coral pigments absorb, so two fixtures with the same PAR can show very different cPUR.
Does this ship free?
No. This item is excluded from our free shipping threshold and ships at the carrier rate, or you can pick it up in store.
Have a question?
ITC Reefculture PARwise PAR and Spectrum Meter
