Just purchased this to grow some tomatoes indoors over the winter. This review is for "Agrobrite T5, FLT28, 2 Foot, 8-Tube Fixture".

This is very nice, but whenever I initially turn it on after being off overnight (not on a timer, yet).... the bulbs are VERY dim.

I have owned an EnviroGro 2-Bulb 2 Foot T5HO for 3 years now. Used each year for seedlings, and in between seasons for occasional cat-grass treat for my feline. Great light. Very bright "AgroBriteâ„¢" bulbs. When I purchased that it came with two spare bulbs as part of a "special" from a local hydro shop. That gave me an opportunity: I swapped out two bulbs that came with this fixture for those unused spares from 3 years ago.

So... did the bulbs compare? Side by side the difference is HUGE, AT STARTUP. The new "AgroBriteâ„¢" 6400k bulbs are VERY DIM compared to the 6400k "AgroBriteâ„¢" brand bulbs hydrofarm was shipping 3 years ago, @ POWER-UP. But.... after waiting 30 minutes to the eye they are equally bright. Good enough for me. Strange though. Long enough it initially inspired a bad review. But overall, not a big deal, just a very noticeable initial difference.

As for packaging comments made by others... looking at dates... it appears they used to have issues but are now good. As mine came very well packaged, well protected, and with no dents or broken bulbs whatsoever.

Nicely packaged. No dents or breakage. Works perfectly right out of the box. Changed two of the lights for 3000K red lights and they went in just like the blue tubes the light came with. Have had it up for 3 days and very pleased. Will return in 6 mos to give an update. ****Well I'm back after six months and knock on wood it's working marvelously. Infact I bought four more Agrobrites in this size and two in the 4 foot 8 bulb size. Very pleased. I removed half of the bulbs in each fixture and replaced those with 3000K red lights just as before. I grow plumeria and needed full spectrum for flowering. I keep these lights anywhere between 6-15 inches from each plant. Also have some dwarf citrus trees that I have about 18" from the lights. No burns on anything. Everything is doing fantastically- another knock on wood. This costs a little more than other brands but I can't imagine buying anything else. Five 4 foot 4 light lights, and two 4 foot eight light lights, and my 15x15 foot room's temp is about 85-86 degrees. I live on the rainy, windy, cold Oregon coast and grow everything indoors year round.

I ordered the Agrobrite T5 light fixture. When I opened the box, I noticed that the fixture had several golf ball-sized dents on the top of the fixture. The fixture works but the dents are very noticable. I am very disappointing as a first time customer

Using these as grow lights 16hrs/day 7 days a week for 2 months. I expect bulbs to burn out at random times but we ordered 2 of these and within the 2 months we've used them we had to return / replace both of them so far due to the ballast problems.

I'm unsure of a better more reliable light at this time but I wouldn't buy this one again.

Im so dissapointed. I bought this light but the small size last year and its still working perfect. So i bought the doble size it came fast and everything ok yesterday. But today i turn it on and tried it.. It doesnt work two sides. I thought it could be the tube but i changed them for the ones that were working in the other two side and they work. So basically the four tubes work but not two side of the lamp. I will have to return it and get a new one like the one i bought last year. I took a pic.