Seed Starting Efforts - Failure to Launch

I have had success starting seeds indoors in the past in my previous residence. I used a table by a sunny window. Since we moved, I haven't had a sunny window available, so I bought a fluorescent lighting system and started the seeds in my basement. This effort was not successful. My germination rate was low and the seedlings haven't flourished. Now, it's transplanting time and I really don't have much that I can transplant. It looks like I will have to buy some plants to plant outside, since it's too late to start more seedlings.

I'm trying to determine what the problem was. Perhaps the basement temperature was too low - it's unheated. Maybe there just wasn't enough light. I used four 6500 degree bulbs. At first, I had the lights on 24 hours. The germination was sparse. At a certain point, I had to switch the lighting to a 16-hour schedule, but even the seedlings that had come up didn't do well.

I used two large trays for starting 72 seedlings each. I also used two smaller trays, with a dozen compartments each. I had difficulty keeping two of the smaller trays moist. The plastic canopies they came with did not fit very well. They were of a poor design. But, my larger trays remained moist for days at a time, and I still didn't get very good germination or growth of the seedlings that did start.

Next Spring, I am going to have to have a different plan. Maybe, by then I can start some seedlings in the greenhouse. I may still try starting seeds in the basement, but pay more attention to night-time temperatures. Maybe, I will try using a space heater in the vicinity of the seed starting apparatus, instead of depending on the fluorescents alone to generate enough heat for germination. Well, I've got about a year to figure it out. In the meantime, I might try starting some seeds in the basement during the summer, under the lights, just to see if germination is better with the warmer temperatures. Also, I can experiment with starting some seeds hydroponically.