1. New Wave are considered a good quality specialist lamp.

2. I have no idea about Lighting Universe.

3. There isn't a huge difference between the best and the worst T5 tubes, they are all pretty similar. Rated lifetime should 20,000 hours or more. Look for lumen maintenance of 95% or mean/design lumens of 1900 on the 24W HO tubes.

4. You would need at least 6 tubes for the area you are looking at, probably 8.

Have you considered using 4' tubes since you are looking at a space about four feet long? They are more efficient, you get twice the tube (twice the light) for only slightly more money, and the four-foot tube length is more widely available. The "foot foot" T5 is actually a 46" tube (54W in HO form), T8 or T12 would be 48" long.

Thanks shrubsnbulbs - if I go with 46" T5 tubes, what should the specs per my question #3 be (if they would change from your previous response regarding mean/design lumens etc)? Would these change for T5HO?