I use 26w cfls for my veg and they are a couple in. away with no problems. I use 1 single T5 for the newly sprouts then they get blasted with cfls. EZG is only using 14w. I would have serious stretch if my bulbs were 8 in away. Thats way too far for cfls. Hell my HPS is only about 12in away. As long as you have proper air circulation and temps get those cfls as close as a couple inches away.
You really need to listen to Douglas1. You find out your temps and ph then go from there.