
Grow Light Tests and Reviews
LED Fixtures
Small: Up to 6sq. ft
- ViparSpectra XS1500 Pro
- Atreum Lighting Hydra 1000
- ViparSpectra XS 1000
- Maxsisun MF-1000
- Mars Hydro TS 1000
- ViparSpectra XS 1500
- Viparspectra P-1500
- Spider Farmer SF 1000
Mid-Size: 6-12sq. ft
- Medic Grow Mini Sun-2 320w
- Mars Hydro FC-E3000
- Atreum Hydra 3200
- ViparSpectra KS3000
- Mogobe Octopus 300
- Photontek SQ 300w PRO
- ViparSpectra XS 2000
- Maxsisun MF 2000
- Mars Hydro FC-3000
- Mars Hydro SP 3000
- Mars Hydro TSL 2000
- Spider Farmer SF 2000
- Migro Aray 4 240w Full Spectrum
Large: Over 12 sq. ft
- Spider Farmer SE7000
- Mars Hydro FC-1000w
- Spider Farmer G8600
- Medic Grow Smart 8 Plus
- Medic Grow Smart 8
- ViparSpectra KS5000
- Mars Hydro FC-E8000
- Mars Hydro FC-8000
- ViparSpectra XS 4000
- Medic Grow EZ-8
- Mars Hydro FC-E4800
- Photontek X 600w PRO
- Photontek XT 1000W CO2 PRO
- Mars Hydro FC-E6500
- Mars Hydro FC-6500
- Spider Farmer SF 7000
- Grower's Choice ROI-E720
- Geek Light GeekBeast Plus
- Medic Grow Fold 8
- ChilLED Growcraft ULTRA X3-330
- Lumatek Zeus 600w Pro
- Mars Hydro SP 6500
- Mammoth 10 Bar
HID Fixtures
- Omega CMH 315w
Grow Light Tests and Reviews
LED Fixtures
Small: Up to 6sq. ft
- ViparSpectra XS1500 Pro
- Atreum Lighting Hydra 1000
- ViparSpectra XS 1000
- Maxsisun MF-1000
- Mars Hydro TS 1000
- ViparSpectra XS 1500
- Viparspectra P-1500
- Spider Farmer SF 1000
Mid-Size: 6-12sq. ft
- Medic Grow Mini Sun-2 320w
- Mars Hydro FC-E3000
- Atreum Hydra 3200
- ViparSpectra KS3000
- Mogobe Octopus 300
- Photontek SQ 300w PRO
- ViparSpectra XS 2000
- Maxsisun MF 2000
- Mars Hydro FC-3000
- Mars Hydro SP 3000
- Mars Hydro TSL 2000
- Spider Farmer SF 2000
- Migro Aray 4 240w Full Spectrum
Large: Over 12 sq. ft
- Spider Farmer SE7000
- Mars Hydro FC-1000w
- Spider Farmer G8600
- Medic Grow Smart 8 Plus
- Medic Grow Smart 8
- ViparSpectra KS5000
- Mars Hydro FC-E8000
- Mars Hydro FC-8000
- ViparSpectra XS 4000
- Medic Grow EZ-8
- Mars Hydro FC-E4800
- Photontek X 600w PRO
- Photontek XT 1000W CO2 PRO
- Mars Hydro FC-E6500
- Mars Hydro FC-6500
- Spider Farmer SF 7000
- Grower's Choice ROI-E720
- Geek Light GeekBeast Plus
- Medic Grow Fold 8
- ChilLED Growcraft ULTRA X3-330
- Lumatek Zeus 600w Pro
- Mars Hydro SP 6500
- Mammoth 10 Bar
HID Fixtures
- Omega CMH 315w
Mars Hydro TSL 2000 Test Results
Usable PPF
523.6
Usable PPE
-
0.00
Efficiency Rating
Power
Draw
-
286
Power
Draw
-
286
Harvest
Potential
-
0.0 - 0.0
-
0.0 - 0.0
Coverage
-
0.0 -
0.0
Ideal Hanging Height
-
14.5
-
37
Manufacturer's Data
- Power Draw: 300w
- PPF: 705µmol
- Efficiency: 2.1-2.35
Ideal Hanging Height
-
14.5
-
37
Mars Hydro TSL 2000 Review
When the TS series hit the market, it changed the industry. These lights have exceptional photon efficiency and distribution at an entry level price. The TS series are Quantum Board style fixtures which use Epistar 3030 chips.
When they were released, the TS series quickly earned our top recommendation for entry level high-efficiency LEDs. Over the past year plus, hundreds of growers have taken that advice and almost all of the feedback is incredibly positive. These are great lights that produce great results.
I know these TSL 2000 fixtures very well. I used them for three of my personal grows. The units that I tested for this report came out of my personal grow. The unit I tested for the individual test had been burned for 1600 hours prior to testing. The second unit that I ran in the array test had been burned a total of about 4000 hours. We normally only test new fixtures because there is some performance lost through time. I would expect a brand new TSL 2000 would perform slightly better than the units in this test.
I am a huge fan of the TS series lights. They have incredible performance in creating and distributing the light. The photon efficiency is elite, but more than just the photon efficiency, I am impressed with the distribution. The Mars Hydro TSL 2000 is designed for a 4’ x 2’ space and it can cover all of it in high density light. The excellent distribution is made possible by the fact that the lights themselves are large. The fixture is only slightly smaller than the space it is designed to cover.
In my test, the Mars Hydro TSL-2000 produced an average PPFD of 727.2 µmol/m2 across the 4’ x 2’ test area. It drew 286 watts and converted them into a Usable PPF of 523.6 µmol. This gives the TSL-2000 a Usable Photon Efficiency of 1.83 µmol/w. This is lower than the top-of-the-line fixtures, but significantly better than any HPS or CMH fixture. We rate the 1.83 µmol/w as “elite”.
When I put the two of them together and tested in a 4’ x 4’ space they performed even better. The average PPFD went up to 750.6 µmol/m2. The Usable PPF went up to 1080.9 µmol, which meets our goal for fully lighting a 4’ x 4’ grow space. You can see the PAR map from this array test below.
The Mars Hydro TSL-2000 is an excellent deal! The purchase cost is only about $0.50/µmol. That is among the best prices you will ever find for any light. With the TS series, you get High Efficiency, excellent distribution, and a proven track record.
The two TSL-2000s in my 4’ x 4’ tent produced my best indoor harvests in terms of quality and quantity. The Grow Light Calculator estimates the benchmark harvest for one TSL-2000 is 14 ounces even. Based on my experience it is certainly achievable.
I appreciate that Mars Hydro provides plenty of cable. This allows you to choose whether to mount the drivers on the lamps or keep them separate. I ran them separate and set the drivers outside of the tent to save heat. The fixtures themselves do heat up, but removing the drivers keeps it very manageable.
The Mars Hydro TS series is a winner. If you are looking for an entry level light, but you want something that is worthy for a real grow, then I highly recommend them. The TSL 2000 is perfect for 4’ x 2’ coverage. I ran the array test with two of them and they are absolutely ideal for a 4’ x 4’ tent. 2 TSL 2000s is the best deal to fully light a 4’ x 4’ grow space. The TSW-2000 is best for 3’ x 3’ spaces and the Mars Hydro TS-1000 is ideal for 2’ x 2’. If you want to upgrade from the TS series, my current top pick in the 4’ x 2’ category is the Mars Hydro SP-3000.
The Coco for Cannabis Grow Light Guide
Grow Light Tests and Reviews
LED Fixtures
Small: Up to 6sq. ft
- ViparSpectra XS1500 Pro
- Atreum Lighting Hydra 1000
- ViparSpectra XS 1000
- Maxsisun MF-1000
- Mars Hydro TS 1000
- ViparSpectra XS 1500
- Viparspectra P-1500
- Spider Farmer SF 1000
Mid-Size: 6-12sq. ft
- Medic Grow Mini Sun-2 320w
- Mars Hydro FC-E3000
- Atreum Hydra 3200
- ViparSpectra KS3000
- Mogobe Octopus 300
- Photontek SQ 300w PRO
- ViparSpectra XS 2000
- Maxsisun MF 2000
- Mars Hydro FC-3000
- Mars Hydro SP 3000
- Mars Hydro TSL 2000
- Spider Farmer SF 2000
- Migro Aray 4 240w Full Spectrum
Large: Over 12 sq. ft
- Spider Farmer SE7000
- Mars Hydro FC-1000w
- Spider Farmer G8600
- Medic Grow Smart 8 Plus
- Medic Grow Smart 8
- ViparSpectra KS5000
- Mars Hydro FC-E8000
- Mars Hydro FC-8000
- ViparSpectra XS 4000
- Medic Grow EZ-8
- Mars Hydro FC-E4800
- Photontek X 600w PRO
- Photontek XT 1000W CO2 PRO
- Mars Hydro FC-E6500
- Mars Hydro FC-6500
- Spider Farmer SF 7000
- Grower's Choice ROI-E720
- Geek Light GeekBeast Plus
- Medic Grow Fold 8
- ChilLED Growcraft ULTRA X3-330
- Lumatek Zeus 600w Pro
- Mars Hydro SP 6500
- Mammoth 10 Bar
HID Fixtures
- Omega CMH 315w
Impartial Testing and Reviews
At Coco for Cannabis, our mission is to help growers maximize the success of their cannabis crops by providing scientifically accurate information and sharing proven growing practices. We created this guide to share reliable grow light data and empower home growers with the best information about grow lights.
We always put growers first. We report accurate information and give our honest evaluation of each fixture. Our recommendations are based on the science, testing and our honest evaluation. You support our work by following our links and using our discount codes when you make a purchase. We may earn a commission on qualifying purchases.
Disclaimer:
The information on cocoforcannabis.com should not be considered as financial, legal, or medical advice. You are responsible for knowing and following the local laws that pertain to cannabis cultivation, possession, and use. Decisions to grow cannabis should be made in consultation with a lawyer or qualified legal advisor. Decisions to use cannabis should be made in consultation with your doctor or medical professional.