It's so bright in there because all the lights are shining in your face and not on the plants. CFL's/fluorescents should be...have to be...within 2" (better to have them 1" if you have proper ventilation i.e. fans blowing on them) to really do what they're supposed to do. The one bulb long fluorescents that are standing up in the corners are just a waste of light energy. If you can you need to redo the grow area so it allows all bulbs to be able to be within the suggested 2" to the plants.