What wattage are the bulbs??
But I'd line 2 of the bulbs to the seedling rows and drop to bout 4-6 inches away.
They will stretch too much too soon if much further away...
Yes, the nice thing about florescents is they won't burn your plants, even if the plants touch the bulb, so as soon as they pop, no more than 4"-6", and even closer is better.
You planting right into the big pots? That's ok, and probably good you only filled them partially....then you can fill them more when/if they stretch.
They are dead i have checked when i got from the mate, i was straight onto him asking...
I check every plant i bring... if my clone roots of it i will bin that bigger one