Hey man and Welcome. I just read over your thread . I use a 250 w too man . I keep it as low as possible , you want to take full advantage of the bulb with a 250 . It doesn't penetrate far into the canopy . I went to LST for this reason somthing you might want to consider on future grows if you stay 250 w. I run mine down at within 6 in of the glass on mine . I air cool it and have a fan blowing directly across thetop of the canopy . My first plant I grew with out training or topping vegged to about 14 in , it topped out at 39 in. in flowering you shouldn't have to worry about 5 1/2 ft plants .