yeah i used to use sunlight supply 8 bulb 4ft fixture, works good . I kept it more like 2 ft away like you.

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Good info here.> Lights: T12 v. T8 v. T5

I have a single bulb T5 HO and have no issues starting vigorous transplants for my entire garden. It puts out almost zero heat, basically body temperature.

http://forums.gardenweb.com/discussions/2993293/tomatoes-and-eggplants-growing-fast

I'm not new to the growing thing haha just not sure how far to keep these specific lights. I have a fan, a thermometer, and white glossy paper around the perimeters for a bit of light reflection. 4x 72 cell trays on top shelf and 4 on the bottom. With 4 bulbs on at 22" it gets to be about 80 degrees

The light itself is 80 degrees or they are making the room 80 degrees? I would say either way, they are way too far from sprouting seedlings, IMO. I keep my lights just a couple inches above the seedlings.

I've been using an 8 tube, 4-foot T5 HO fixture to start veggies for the past three years. The room temperature is 75-80 in the day, but I use a fan and don't think that's too much of a problem. It would better to get the day temps down a bit, but I don't have any other space that would work. I keep the lights 4-6 inches above the plants and get great growth. I definitely think you should use all 8 lights and get them much closer to your plants. I've never had brown tips or any other problems with this system. I think your problem must be caused by something else.

Well Ive come to a conclusion that I can only get my light so close until it gets too hot. I noticed you guys have vents on the top of your fixtures, mine only have side vents so i understand why yours is not putting out as much heat or at least your releases it better. I think everything will be good might just be hard city water causing the burnt tips

Just for the record, my fixture doesn't have vents on top. But you need to pay attention to your own situation an do what you think is best.

Is that a T5 HO? Mine is a single bulb, but I have no problems with heat, without any vents, it is probably somewhere between 100-105F to the touch, an inch away from it you can't feel any heat at all.

Mine is a HO. Each bulb is 50 watts compared to a four foot T12 (standard) bulb that is 40 watts. I have touched it without getting burned. It does generate heat, raising room temps by up to 10 degrees in a small room, and most seedlings prefer slightly cooler growing conditions. But I have not regretted my decision to start using it after many years of using standard shop lights. My plants grow faster and they are much sturdier, with shorter internodes than they had under shop lights.