If your getting 34k over the plants your good.
I agree, and that fixture is something! That's where his money went.
Heisenbubble, do think his reading is correct? It looks like a big spread and the gaps between the lights? And different bulbs?
That's another problem with that fixture, it doesn't look like the lights are adjustable.
Which is beneficial with CFL
Newtothis I know you put a lot of work into this and you're stoked! But I'd chop this up to the game and be stoked on what you learned. If you can disassemble and use the light Moguls individually.
Those moguls that hold two lights would be a better option. I also prefer the cfl twist style that are smaller. There's a light that looks like a u and probably like 18 inches long, I don't remember what there called but descent for the price.
Also if you built that then you have a little bit of knowledge of wiring. You can order online or go to electrical supply house and buy a magnetic ballast replacement it comes with the coil starter and the ballast and wire it up. Your coil and starter each have two wires, I believe the balast has 120v 240v 277v and 480v use the correct volts. Then get a big mogul and a light. You don't have to buy expensive builds get a cheap one until you can upgrade.
Make the wires between the Mogol and the starter, I believe the starter connect to the mobile it'll tell you. I'm going from memory from like 2001 but make those wirers longer so you can put the ballast outside the grow room or wherever.
It's cheap, and now I just realized you could probably find it one on Amazon for cheaper or already made. The ballast like 20 mogul like 5 and lamp like 10.... I'm guessing. Now I just through this out here cuz it's cheap and you like to DIY
Imo, I'd run metal halide whole grow