You want the light has close has possible,without burning the plants.Put your hand under the light if its too warm for hand it will be too warm for your plants.use a ossalating fan to blow across the top of the plant this way you can get away by haveing the lights closer.The only time i would have my light has far a 1 ft of the tops is after week 5 of flowering but no higher,than a ft,this will give all the plant light.Because round about week five of flowering growing holts in some cases,and the plants become wider so by haveing a foot gap all the plant gets light.Think of it has a torch beam,at week 5 because the plant is at the stage where growing holts and the plant is at its widest,by haveing it at 1 ft this gives a wider arc of light.Through the rest of the grow i have the lights has close has 6 ince......hope this helps tyke,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,