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I planted a group of tomatos several times. Each time they sprout up very well then grow to about 3in tall and very skinny stalk. Have 2 leaves for at least a month then get a few more small leaves with no other apparent growth. Some die, and seems like there is no root development. Have 9 hours per day of wide spectrum lights and stable temp. Soil is not dirt but is made for starting plants. What am I doing wrong?

Well how high is your light? Should be right above the plants. Also it looks like you have mold on your soil. Lack of air circulation can cause this. Was the soil sterile? Not an open bag from last year? Humid - unsterile soil - lack of air circulation all can lead to the dreaded damping off which weakens the plant at soil level and they die.

Lights are right above the plants and the "soil" was from one of those planters that seem to be a puck until you add water. Also tried that on sterile fake soil, same result.  
Yes I do see this white stuff on the top of the soil and there is not a lot of air circulating in the room. Just figured it was from the self watering evaporation.

Tomato plants need 14 to 18 hours of lights that are three inches above them. Maybe that will help. By the way I plant my tomato seeds on April 1st and they are the right size to transplant by the end of May.

Watering with cooled chamomile tea should help prevent damping off. I used this in a spray bottle to start and it worked well. Maybe your plants need a touch less moisture too.  
 
With the height of those plants, they needed to be a lot closer to the light at the beginning. They have been reaching for the light uf they are that spindly. Maybe placing it closer at this point can still help. Just thinking...what type of bulb are you using?  
 
Edited by Flutterby, 2019-03-30 17:11:39

The bulbs are blue and red LED made for growing plants.  
I can adjust for just blue or just red or both. Also can afjust the intensity and the time. The planter is suposed to be self watering and I did add some liquid fertilizer.  
I will plant some more now and move the light right over the top of this new batch to see if there is any improvement.

Maybe ditch the auto watering. As I see it they always have wet bottoms which I don’t think is good. Also you shouldn’t fertilize until you have at least 4 leaves, maybe 6.

Definitely looks like your plants are stretching for more light. As mentioned, the plants should be 3 to 4 inches from their light source.  
I have my lights on a timer. On by 6:30 am. Off at 10:30 pm.

I am not sure if this link helps, but I happened to catch this blog article written by a Manitoba Master Gardener on their particular method of success with starting tomato seeds. I had been interested in starting some heirloom varieties and came across this.  
 
Weak and spindly is mentioned in *Rule 8*, but the particular process from the beginning is interesting to read.  
 
Best of luck with your plants. Here is the link;  
 
http://www.mgmanitoba.com/2019/03/04/growing-tomatoes-part-1-of-2/

What type of lights are you using?

You might read the des:cription in a previous post.

Blue light exaggerates foliage, so for seedlings you don’t necessarily need red light - they need blue light to get a head start on their leaves. I agree with past posters about moving the light closer, or if possible, having them in front of a window as well. Don’t put any fertilizer on them - they are too small.

Repot and bury the stems up until right under the leaves. The stems will start putting out roots. It's cool.

The tomatoes think they're being shaded by other plants. Most of the energy is put into growing up to reach the sun. More intense light should work.

Classic stretching due to not enough light, and then over watering caused mold damage to the base of the stems. Drop your lights as close as you can without cooking them, you can get the lights even closer if you have a small fan blowing, my lights I keep just a few inches above the tops of the leaves. Dropping the lights and having a fan on them will also help dry the soil up quicker after watering and prevent or clear up your mold issue. To be honest your better off throwing these seedlings out and starting again compared to fighting unhealthy thin stems all year.