Jump Start 2' T5 Grow Light System with Stand, Fixture & Tube - JSV2 | Indoor Plant Growing for Hydroponics, Seedlings & Herbs

This item arrived in record time (2 days after placing the order in spite of asking for the standard delivery that comes with free shipping offer for non-prime customers). Unfortunately, the bulb was shattered in shipment. Amazon.com offered a rebate on the total cost of my order that made it unnecessary to send the entire item back and compensated for half the cost of ordering the 4-bulb replacement pack (sent overnight mail gratis by Amazon.com and arrived unbroken). It was a great relief, as I already had assembled the frame (packed by Hydrofarm in a separate box) without thinking to first check the second box with the light and housing. In fact, to prevent breakage I was gingerly moving the light box, keeping it in its amazon brown box, all the time upright, in the same direction that it was delivered to my house. Consequently, I did not discover the shattered glass until I took the light box out of its amazon packing and turned it on its side to open it up. Thanks to the great amazon.com customer service, I did not have to go through the hassle of returning anything...Frame assembly is quick and straightforward. It goes together in about 4 minutes flat, no screw drivers or rubber mallets required. The latter is recommended by the manufacturer but unnecessary. In spite of complaints from some, I was impressed by how sturdy the frame appears. All in all, a neat solution for those not adept at rigging up lighting for early spring indoor growing season or simply do not have the space for rigged solutions. My seedlings, for instance, are growing on the bar in our finished basement.With 16 hours of light, the jump start system helped (together with heat mats) my seedlings (various squashes) grow 1/4 inch overnight. An added bonus is that about a third of the finished part (abt. 18' x 25') of the basement and the entire stairway up to the main floor glow with a soft white light from 6 A.M., suddenly adding light to the dreariest part of the day!!I am elated with this product, which also won high marks (as the most economic and efficient solution) in a review of growth lights in a recent issue of Fine Gardening magazine.However, four reasons prevented a five-star rating. First, the frame's pieces fit together so tightly together, I doubt I will be able to disassemble the product for storage and then reassemble it again in late winter next year.Second, the directions for the light and housing could have been clearer. For example, It helps to have a dime on hand in order to turn the slots on the housing in a vertical position for bulb insertion. It also was difficult to twist the inserted bulb back into the vertical position. (There is almost no headroom between bulb and housing. After spending a good 20 minutes cleaning up glass shards from the first broken bulb, I also understandably was hesitant to twist too forcefully.)Third, I have not used it for more than 48 hours, and therefore cannot make a longer-term judgement about growth outcomes.Fourth, my system is running on a lot of extras (timer and heating mats), not included in a product billed as a larger growth system. To guarantee 16 hours of light a day without having to turn the product on and off by hand, I purchased locally and attached a seven-day timer. (Unfortunately, the corresponding timer for this product (sold separately) was not highly rated. A similar timer at amazon.com had problems with the instructions not corresponding to the boxed product.) I also added heating mats (one Hydrofarm pad and one plain old heating pad set to low, the setting necessary to register the 75 degree temp on the Hydrofarm pad) .Note, too, I followed the advice of another reviewer. I microwaved for ten minutes my seed starting medium (reconstituted peat pellets). I tweaked the advice just a bit by adding extra water to the bottom of the ceramic pie plate containing the pellets, before microwaving.) I planted in the warm medium, undoubtedly an additional growth stimulant. (I did not soak any seeds overnight, something I routinely do for all but the tiniest of seeds in order to stimulate sprouting). I also have not treated with cinnamon, as the reviewer suggested for damping off, in part because in the past I have used a diluted chamomile tea solution instead. Since no scientific evidence exists for either cinnamon or chamomile preventing damping off, I am aiming through this purchase and the heating pads not only for quicker growth but also for drier soil conditions. After all, it is easier to revive a thirsty seedling, than an overwatered one... So far, so good. The soil conditions are much drier for the seedlings under light and over heat than for a batch I have stowed upstairs, basking in the much warmer kitchen. Do keep in mind that drier conditions also translate into more day-to-day vigilance.I ordered the JSV2 2' grow light jump start system and it arrived pretty quickly and set up was a breeze. All you really need is a screw driver and common sense. I put it together in about 10 minutes and the pully system for the light comes already assembled and works great.It also comes with a 24 watt T5 6400k High output fluorescent bulb which is already installed upon arrival. The 6400k bulb is a very efficient low heat bulb which is designed to promote overall growth in the plant. Because it is a low heat emitting bulb you can place the light source a couple inches from the plants to prevent the loss of light.This is not a complex system, it is simple and efficient. For the price it would be hard to find a package which comes with a stand, a reflective fixture, a good bulb, easy adjustment, and easy assembly. It is a good first step into the grow light world which is vast and and many times confusing. I also found that it isn't really that flimsy. The product isn't industrial grade but the light fixture is sturdy and so is the stand if you put it together correctly.I will be growing venus fly traps when they arrive and I have researched grow light systems quite a bit. This system will only cost me $1.50 cents to run per month. The calculation can be done by taking the 24 Watts and dividing it by 1000 to get KW. Then multiply that number by how much the electric company charges per Kilowatt hour. That is the price it will cost to power the light for one hour. Then multiply that number for one hour by however many hours you will run it during the day. Then just multiply the cost of one day by 30 days and you have how much it will cost you to run the system for a month.For example here is mine 24W/1000 = .024.024 x .1484 (cost per kWh) = .0035616 cents per hour (less than 1 cent an hour). .0035616 x 14 hours = .0498624 dollars per day (about 5 cents). .0498624 x 30 = 1.50 per month. So my light run for 14 hours will cost one dollar and fifty cents per month. This is assuming that the light runs at 24 Watts per hour.When I was shopping for grow lights online I found a very helpful website that includes a much better description on the Jump Start grow light and has a lot of technical and very helpful information on plant lighting. littlegreenhouse.com/accessory/lights2.shtml#jsfixture.The website has a grow lighting guide and also contains the calculation above. It was by far the most helpful website when considering this purchase. It includes a good bit of information about the T5 6400k bulb and the Jump Start from HydroFarm.I bought this system 3 years ago. It is easy to set up and adjust the light to whatever level you need. Recently I lost a clip for one of the sides. I reached out to customer service to find out where I could order another and they sent me one in the mail. Great light and great customer service!As advertised.light bulb included with unit smashed, and there is no way to get a replacement unless I diassemble the unit, I have replaced the light included but would like a replacement bulb sent to me.No damage to package, no indication that bulb was broke until i went to hook up light fixture. light bulb was not in a separate tube which is the standard for these lights. I have the similiar fixture and this was a replacement.System in place at Amazon does not allow for replacement of damaged or missing parts. You must sent it all back.I buy a lot of goods from Amazon.ca and am not pleasedI could have sworn when I bought this it had 2 bulbs. But it's the dimensions stated and fits around my container which was 23" but like all the ones in the store not enough wattage rating to cover its own surface area 45 watts per foot lolBut that being said none of them do unless they had 2 45watt bulbs strung acrossJust buy a big ass led and put it higher up the power company needs paid too and your plants will grow much faster I don't even use this thing to start. It just keeps my strawberries now.All that being said I'd say this jump start is one of the best in they're class none our good enoughProduct arrived prompt and in good condition. After reading others' reviews I wanted to wait at least a month before giving mine just to see how the light will work out. So far so good! It was easy to assemble and the light bulb has not burn out (thats a good thing especially after reading others' reviews). The actual height was shorter than I would like, but after some modifications it worked out. Overall, Im happy with my purchase.This was very easy to assemble and should be very helpful when I start my seeds in March and April. It fits on a small table near my window so this year my seedlings will get lots of light. I think this is a very sturdy system and I like the fact that it is adjustable so you can start the seeds with the light on the lowest setting and raise it up as the plants get bigger. It fits a growing system that I already had so I'm very happy with it.