Some of them I started direct, however this run (and subsequently everything currently in the veg tent) was actually germinated under the T5’s. The last run I did some Fast Buds Gorilla Glue from germination under that light. It was an amazing plant.
So far with the height, I’ve just basically tried to keep it about 18" above the tallest plant to keep it from burning. I evaluate daily, so it can vary. When I start seeing the tiniest burns on the tips of the leaves, i move it up a couple inches.
As to germination in the future, I think what I’ll do since the breeding side of the tent now has the T5’s and I don’t have any more power to use (lol, its an apartment and a total shit show), but I digress…probably throw a tv tray in to account for the height difference for seedings and wing it.
I gave up on clones this summer due to the heat. Couldn’t keep the reservoir cold enough and it just fried all the clones, which just made me want to make seeds even more!