from doing PAR tests on both T5's and CF bulbs I have found that T5's have a 50% more output than CF, so if you are using 39w T5's they will put out about the same PAR as ~55 watt CF bulbs, so if you are staying at the same color of bulb then yes you are downgrading.
I would go to a 4 bulb fixture for the T5s if I was replacing two 96 watt CFs.
Steve
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