Best T5 Grow Lights for Growing Cannabis 2020 – Reviews & Buying Guide

If you have researched into lights that are suitable for growing weed, then you have most likely come across TX lights, with T standing for “tubular” and X stands for the diameter. These days, T5 lights are a bit more popular than T12 lights as they are a bit easier to find and prove to give plants enough light during their vegetative phase.

One reason T5 lights are one of the best fluorescents grow lights for weed is that it is inexpensive. LED lights are 2-3 times more expensive than T5 lights and some LED lights are even ten times more expensive. So, if you don’t have a big enough budget to afford LED lights, although they do have a longer lifetime, T5 lights are for you.

Another reason we recommend T5 lights is because compared to other lights like high-pressure sodium lamps, T5 lights are a lot cooler. This is a great advantage for some setups as plants in extremely tight locations will still be able to grow, as you can place the light right on top of the plant, leaving just a few inches above, without much issue due to the coolness of the light.

Lastly, T5 lights consume a minimal amount of electricity. The amount of electricity a light consumes is an important factor as you have to keep the light on 24/7. This will result in high electricity bills with lights that consume lots of electricity, but that won’t be the case with T5 lights.

One thing to consider when using T5 lights is that it won’t be sufficient to grow your plants from beginning to end. This is because the bulbs that come with T5 lights aren’t strong enough to grow your plants during the flowering phase. As you will need strong lights during the flowering phase, we recommend that you get red spectrum bulbs and use it alongside your T5 light to make sure that your plants get enough light for maximum growth and maximum yields.

Best 5 T5 Grow Light Reviews:

Below, we will be reviewing several products that we consider one of the best in the industry. If you are looking for value and quality in your lights, then we recommend that you choose one of the products below, as they all have great build quality and will last a long time.

1. Agrobrite FLT48 T5 Fluorescent Grow Light System

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B002TJKS8Y/

If you don’t want to spend your time reading our reviews of the lights below and want to pick the best, then we recommend the Agrobrite lights. It comes with a breathtaking 40,000 Lumens and includes x8 6400K T5 tubes. One feature that directly relates to the amount of tubes this light comes with is that you can use the switches that come with this product to turn some lights off and some lights on. This will give you the flexibility that no other products will be able to give you. Another feature that we love about this product is that it is able to hang in 3 different directions. These directions include overhead, vertical, and horizontal. Whichever setup you are using right now, you will be able to use this T5 light as all you have to do is set up the light in the direction you need it to be in and the rest will fit like a puzzle.

As this light is Daisy chain compatible, you will be able to reduce the wires needed for this setup. This product comes in a steel housing to make sure that it lasts for quite a while and is also faceted with aluminum to help it distribute light more evenly. The distribution of light is very important as that is what allows plants to grow evenly without some getting more light than others, increasing the variability of your plants’ yields. The one downside to this product is that it is a bit more expensive than the others on this list but this is mostly due to the higher build quality and increased strength of the light of this product. Overall, if you are okay with the price, then we highly recommend this product as it only consumes around 450 watts and has all the features you’ll need for your setup.

 

2. Apollo Horticulture T5 2 Feet / 4 Tube Commercial Fixture with your Choice of Bulbs

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B00HDZJFZ6/

If you don’t have as big of a growing room and/or are a small grower and are looking to spend less money, then this product is the next recommendation. It can also hang in three directions (overhead, vertical, and horizontal) just like the product above, giving you all the flexibility you’ll need to setup your light to meet your needs of your growing room. As this light is cool and doesn’t heat up too much, you’ll be able to use this light fairly close to your plants. We recommend that you set up your lights at around 8-inches above your plants for maximum light exposure without damaging your plants.

The smaller size of this light is also an advantage if you have a small growing tent. This is because you’ll be able to fit the light on top without an issue in addition to it being able to be close up to your plants, giving your light more space on top. Overall, if you would like to spend a bit less money on your T5 light, then this one is an alternative to consider.

 

3. T5 Grow Light (4ft 4lamps) DL844s Ho Fluorescent Hydroponic Fixture Bloom Veg Daisy Chain with Bulbs

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B00HEYCRI8/

Although the Lumen output of this light is only half of the #1 product we recommended, this product is a bit more affordable and comes with features that we think you’ll like. Its reflectivity is 95% which means more light output compared to other systems. One great feature that we love about this product is that it has 5 fixtures off of one wall outlet, giving you more space to work with when it comes to wires. We know how difficult wire management can be, but that won’t be the case with this light since it will give you less clutter and rather more convenience.

The light is also flexible when it comes to lights. This is because there are two different switches which will allow you to switch between dimming the inner bulbs and the outer bulbs. So, if you have a setup that would require the switching between dimming of these two bulbs, then this light is highly recommended. Overall, this light is a great alternative if you don’t want to spend as much as the best T5 grow light that we recommended, but you still want the great features and quality.

 

4. Apollo Horticulture Purple Reign 2′ Foot 2 Bulb 24W 6400K T5 Grow Light System for Plant Growing

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B015JYK4P2/

If you are just starting to grow or you have a small collection of seeds and don’t want to invest too much in the beginning for lights and fixture, then this system is highly recommended. Coming at an affordable price, this system includes a T5 light and a fixture to keep your lights well above your plants. Although this light won’t get too hot, it does come with the downside of being a bit hotter than the other products in this list. But, if you keep the height that the fixture comes at, then your plants shouldn’t have an impact. Another downside is that it won’t last that long, maybe a couple of weeks or months, but that is expected as this light is quite affordable. If you want a light that can last at least 10,000 hours, then you’ll have to look a bit higher in terms of budget as it’ll be hard to find a light that will last longer than 10,000 hours in this price range.

This product comes with a 24W 6400k bulb and is adjustable to meet the minimum Lumen output that your plant requires. As each strain requires different light intensity, it is important that you get enough information from your seed bank about the light your plant will need, or else you’ll face the consequences of your seeds not growing properly. Lastly, the assembly is a factor that not many growers take into consideration when ordering lights. However, it is a factor that is important to take into consideration because if the assembly is difficult, the stress and headaches might not be worth it. Luckily, the assembly for this product is strikingly simple, allowing you to build it and have it up and running in a manner of minutes. Overall, this product is well worth the price and if you are looking for a quality light in this price range, you shouldn’t look anywhere else.

 

5. Hydro Crunch 4 ft. 8-Bulb 432-Watt T5 High Output Fluorescent Grow Light Fixture

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0099989Y2/

  • 95% highly reflective aluminum reflector for maximum light output
  • 8 x 6400K lamps included
  • 8 ft. 120-Volt power cord that plugs into a standard outlet
  • Bulbs included (54-Watt each)
  • Daisy chain-able feature (up to 3 fixtures per outlet)

Lastly, we have a product that is around the price of the first product that we recommended. It is similar in terms of build quality and is just as intense when it comes to light intensity. It comes with x8 6400k lamps. One downside to having x8 lamps this bright is that it does produce a bit of heat when all 8 are on. If you do decide to get this light, then we recommend that you keep just 4 on if you are going to be using this light pretty close to your plants. This is to ensure that your plants do not get damaged from the heat produced by the light. This product has a 95% reflectivity aluminum reflector which will allow your plants to have the highest light output possible. This will help your plants thrive and grow to provide you with the best yields possible.

Each bulb will consume 54 watts which comes to around 450 watts total if all the bulbs are on at once. But as we said before, we recommend that you use 4 bulbs if you are using the light close up, but we also recommend that you only use 4 bulbs if you are growing a small amount of weed. If you are growing in a large area, then feel free to use all 8 alongside using the Daisy chain feature of this product to reduce the clutter of wires. This light is able to be used vertically and horizontally, so if you have a vertical shelf setup, you will be able to use this light efficiently as well. Overall, if you are able to afford this light, you’ll be able to take advantage of this lights’ intense brightness alongside all the benefits of using a T5 light. Due to all the features and benefits of this product, we also consider this light to be one of the best T5 grow lights you can use.

Conclusion

T5 lights are an amazing type of grow light to use because it provides you with efficient lighting, brightness, low power consumption, and low heat production. This will ensure that growing your plant is a smooth, easy process without any obstacles concerning light production. If you are worried about the price, then choose one of the budget options that we have recommended in the above list such as the Durolux products or the Apollo lights. Lastly, keep in mind that you will have to go out and get red spectrum lights someday for your flowering phase, as T5 lights are generally not strong enough to provide sufficient light to your plants during this phase.

Author Details
Senior Editor & Researcher , Greenthevoteok
Matt Hansel is a Medical Practitioner, who has been writing and researching about cannabis since 2014.  His popular quotes which we like are: \"Don\'t use CBD oil for a cure, use it as a precaution\"  \"CBD should be considered as any other vitamin supplement and your body needs it!\"