i have a 4 bulb tek light over my 120 and now run 2 bulbs for 4 or 5 hours and 2 for 10 or12hrs. (cant remember the exact intervals). Started with 4 bulbs running all the time and that was too much.... no algae with the current photoperiods.

Those T5's in that fixture are extremely efficient and seem to provide more light than the wattage suggests. I am very happy with my 4 bulb system.

I should mention however that i have a built in overflow with occupies an 8"x16" section of the back center.
--Neil

 

I just bought the TEK 6 bulb for my 120 gallon. I also bought the acrylic shield and suspension hanger. This way I can run the light over an open tank, choose how many bulbs I want going 2-4-6, and can change the height of the light.

 

Does your fixture have 2 cables & 3 switches ??

 

Can anyone give me the switching sequence of the tek 6 bulb 48" fixture W/ 2 cables, thought they only had 2 switches = the 2 outside bulbs on 1 sw & all 6 on the other ???

 

1 sw = 2 outside bulbs
1 sw = 4 interior bulbs

 

Thanks, how many Hrs are you running it ??

 

Have the 6 bulb on a 90 gallon. I am running the 2 bulbs from 10 -noon, 4 bulbs from noon-2, 6 bulbs from 2-4, 4 bulbs from 4-8 and the 2bulbs from 8 -10pm. I figured on going with the over kill fixture rather then regretting my purchase.

 

What are you using as far as timers on the lights? I'm not sure what to use on my 75 gal. i plan on having 3 T5HO, 2 on and one for a noon burst.

 

Thanks Peteski ! which bulbs did you go with ??

 

I'm in the planning stages of my 120g now. Would you mind telling me the other specs on your 120g, like filtration, flow, co2, reactor? Thanks!

 

2X 2028 eheims, inline Rex reactor on one & glass diffuser @ opposite end of tank

 

Well after copious amounts of procrastination I decided on a 6 bulb version with the tank legs. As you can run the 4 center lights & the 2 outside on seperate switches I decided to go with a combination of Giesemann 6k midday's & aquaflora's going try them in this order front to back : 6K 6K AF 6K AF AF
the reason being I read in a posts that if you put an AF in front it throws of a reddish light hence the 6K's will be up front when running 2 or 4 bulbs. i also have an extra 6k so if the 6K AF combo does"nt look good when running the 2 bulbs only, then I replace the AF with a 6K & run 2X6K's....Hopefully I made the right choice, I'll know tomorrow evening as it will be installed on my tank!!

 

PHalas, can we have a pic when it's installed? I went with the 2 pt suspension hanger, but would like to see it on a 120g with legs. Wondering how far off the tank it will sit.