Update on CFL Setup....after using light meter...this is kind of long!

[Austinerd]

Hello All,
A week or so ago I posted a thread about my CFL setup which has a 200-watt (5000K) bulb. I posted another picture here....sorry about the pic quality (had to get it to fit the forum limitations). The light carts on either side of the middle unit have standard shop-light type fixtures (2 40watt tubes on each fixture), tubes recently replaced. I have 3 phals under the left one and a pyschopsis. Under the right one I have a couple of phals. Under the middle CFL fixture I have:

Slc. Hsin Buu Lady 'Y.T.'
Blc. Haw Yuan Beaty 'Hong'
A NOID which I suspect to be another small Blc.
My newest acquisition: Pot. Love Passion 'Orange Bird'
Onc. Sugar Baby
2 Onc. NOIDS

I just got a new digital light meter today, recommended to me by Ross. It's the Light Meter Lux & Foot Candle - Sper Scientific 840020. IF I'm using the light meter correctly, the results are a bit disappointing...but confusing also. Under the standard fixtures (where I have the phals) I'm getting leaf-level readings of only 150-200 foot-candles. Under the CFL fixture in the middle, (all leaf-level readings) I'm getting 6-700 foot-candles on the left end and around 500 on the right end (I keep the oncidiums at the ends). In the center, where I want the catts to bloom, the maximum reading I'm getting is about 1200 foot-candles and this is directly below the bulb, about 8 or 10 inches down.

Soooooo........I'm a bit confused because my books say the phals want 1-2000 foot-candles, and Ross is thinking I should want about 1800 or so for the catts. (They run about 13-14 hours per day by the way). But my phals are perfectly happy and have been blooming. I'm wondering if I need to lower the CFL closer to the catts or wait and see.........

Sorry this is so long, and thanks in advance for any suggestions or comments.
Dan in Austin