Help with Sunblaster LED or alternatives

[stompy]

Hi guys. I bought a 2 foot Sunblaster Grow LED 6400K based on the feedback from my other thread. I'm completely new to growing under artificial lights. My idea was to supplement the meager sunlight my windowsill gets. I get some direct sunlight btw 9-11am. My apartment is in shade thereafter because of the nature of the apartment building. My plan was to supplement the light with the LED, turning it on in the morning 6-10 and after I get back home (depending on the day length requirements of the plants)

The problem is the single sunblaster I have does not put out enough light (or at least I think so). Here are my measurements (my grow area is very small 2x4 feet)

1.5 feet from light - 250 Fc
1 foot from light - 500Fc
0.5 feet from light - 1300Fc

I have a very sensitive meter (I'm one of those crazy photographers) so I think these values are accurate.

This is not enough light and barely enough even for my Phalenopsis. Certainly nowhere close for the Cattleyas and Dendrobiums. I also did a rough calculation on DLI and short of keeping the light on for 20+ hours it's not going to be enough. Obviously I don't want to do that

What do I do? Ideally I would like to have my high light plants at 1.5 feet from the light (the canopy). Here are what I think are my options

1) buy another sunblaster and daisy chain to the first. I can't find much info on the sunblasters light output so don't know how much of a bump I will get with two. I don'y think i can double the light?

2) buy a LED panel - I don't mind sinking the money especially since I don't see the point of buying more and more sunblasters. The cost would just add up to the cost of a panel. My problem is what to buy? I'm not good with DIY so this will have to be a ready made solution. I'm just confused with the choices. I don't want to shell out $500 and find it doesn't work for my needs (sort of like the sunblasters)

Would really appreciate some advice. I can post pics of my grow space if it helps

[stompy]

Found some technical data on the sunblasters

Technical Data - SunBlaster Lighting

Looks like If I get X2 4 foot sunblasters that should be enough for my requirements?

[Leafmite]

It seems like you have found a good solution. I started with lights before LED's were mainstream so my lights are mostly fluorescent but I plan to switch over...and have something like what is shown with those shelves (I have shelves like that with my four foot, four bulb lights attached).

I do not recommend having the lights 1.5 feet from the plants, though. You can see that they show the lights close to the plants. I have my LED Sunblaster strip about eight inches above my Cattleyas and Dendrobiums.

I bought a good power strip with surge protection to protect my lights and a good quality timer. I have five sets of lights plugged into it during the winter and it works very well.

Good luck!