Sunlight Tek 8x48 t5 help!

[GPSReef]

I have the Sunlight supply Tek light 48 8 bulb light fixture it came part of a used tank deal and was a throw in (not used much) and I've decided to use it for my 75 gallon build. Problem is I'm having an issue with two of the bulb sockets. bulbs 1 and 2 7 and 8 work off one switch and they work without issue firing all four bulbs. When I put four in the middle slots 3-6 and flip the other switch bulbs 3 and 4 light while bulbs 5 and 6 do not. I only have 6 bulbs from an old fixture to test with but all six work so it hasn't an issue testing them. I can have all six bulbs firing at once when they are in the working slots it's just any time I put two in 5 and 6 they don't light. Can someone help me figure out what I'm missing my guess is bad wiring to those specific slots but I don't want to break into this thing before I have a better idea of whats going on I haven't been able to find any wiring diagrams or tech info on this light. Could it be the ballast? I thought if it was a ballast the other two lights wouldn't work as well. Please help!
Thanks gps

 

[moondoggy4]

Can you switch the bulbs from 3 and 4 to 5 n 6, or simply twist the bulbs that do not work,

 

[GPSReef]

yes when switch the bulbs 3 and 4 don't work in 5 and 6 then 5 and 6 work

 

[GPSReef]

its something just with those two slots (5 & 6) it seems to me at least. I'm just so unfamiliar with this light fixture and t5 in general

 

[rtparty]

If it's just two slots, it's either the ballast (not likely since Tek uses Workhorse ballasts and runs all 4 bulbs on one ballast), the sockets themselves are bad or the wiring. My guess is wiring is a little loose somewhere.

 

[GPSReef]

ok yea looks like I will check the wiring to those two slots before anything else. I was thinking of just running the six lights (it'd save me money) instead of 8 in anyone's experience does an eight bulb fix make a huge difference over six? I've even heard some people say 8 can be overkill sometimes. It's a 75 gallon pretty standard 48x18x21

 

[rtparty]

You don't need 8 bulbs on a 75. You just need to be careful because the ballast could be sending power to those sockets still and become dangerous.