are they photoperiods? do you want to initiate flower phase? Then, yes, that is required.
use pot elevators (container,not weed-pot, lol). Use some old milk crates or buckets etc.. raise it up to the same height and all is well.
fill the space properly before flipping, even out the canopy any way you can after that is acheived. If the are is roughyl 70% of Length x width dimension (~49%) it should fill in after flip. You'll have at least 4 more weeks of strong vege growth coming and sometimes more.
less light = less growth.. i'd hesitate before choosing that route.