The Mars Hydro TS-3000 is a Full Spectrum 450W grow light. It’s $450 from Amazon and advertised to be powerful enough for a 4×4 or 5×5 grow tent, or even to be used commercially.
I chose the TS-3000 as my first grow light when I started growing weed and my first grow was in a 5×5 tent. Four plants produced 1lb 3g of top-shelf cannabis.
Is the TS-3000 Enough Light for 5×5 Tent?
For starters, this light was plenty of power for the 5×5 tent. With four or six plants in the 5×5 tent, the single panel TS-3000 lights the canopy well enough. I pulled a pound on my very first try.
BUT WAS IT ENOUGH?? No, not really. Light penetration in the center of the tent, directly under the light, is great – but in the corners and edges of the tent, there will be very little light penetration. This means all-but-the-top colas and nugs directly beneath them will likely be underdeveloped near the edges and corners of your tent.
I like to manifold or mainline my plants. I top them and grow them wide rather than tall. I like to maximize my canopy and grow as much weed as possible. This light isn’t enough for my 5×5.
TS-3000 in 4×4 Grow Tent
The TS-3000 LED panel fills the footprint of the 4×4 much more than it fills the 5×5. It’s still possible to move around the perimeter of the light in the 4×4, but in the 5×5 it was roomy.
With the 450 actual watts TS-3000 in my 4×4 tent, I grew several rounds of autoflower cannabis. At one point I had 9 plants in the grow and some plants put out as much as 10 ounces EACH!!
The TS-3000 is much more ideal in the 4×4 grow tent. Canopy penetration near the edges and corners wasn’t amazing, but it was pretty good!!
The Mars Hydro TS-3000 in combination with the 4×4 grow tent is a great budget setup and a cheap way to start growing weed at home.
Links for products used in this grow:
Mars Hydro 5×5 Grow Tent
Mars Hydro TS 3000 LED Grow Light
AC Infinity Cloudline T6 fan with speed controller & temp/humidity
Growers Choice Seeds (Super Silver Haze, White Widow, Green Crack)
General Hydroponics Nutrients
Autopot 4-pot hydroponic system
Airdomes
AirPump
Seedling Hot Pad / Dome
Hey Troy, long-time fan here! I have some questions about the Mars Hydro TS-3000…
You mentioned the other more powerful lights produced more yield, but was there any difference in the quality of the herb (potency, flavor)?
You mentioned the TS3000 isn’t powerful enough for a 5X5 with 4 plants… does that have to do with the size of the grow tent, the number of plants, or is it just not powerful enough as a grow light?
I’m hoping to get a 4X4, and get the max yield out of maybe 2 plants. Would the TS300 be the best option for a small-scale grow like this?
Thank you!
@Lyle the tsw3000 is best in a 3×3 it doesn’t finish strong and the max intensity in a 3×3 seems to be the solution in the last 3weeks of flower