hydroponics using only red led lights

I've converted an old water cooler to a hydroponic box and put a 12" red led traffic light on top. They are sprouting but what's next?

 

Chances are that the red LED's are all the same color value (LED's color "shades" are measured in nanometers of light wavelength). Your plants will need a wider variety of wavelengths, several from the red, orange and yellow end of the spectrum and several from the blue,indigo and violet end. Pretty much "at least a little" of everything except green. Plants don't absorb green light, they reflect it; that's why they appear to be green. Plants use different light wavelengths to trigger different growth responces like people depend on different vitamins to control certain body functions and overall health. If your plants are only getting one little sliver of the light spectrum they can't grow and be healthy - it would be like you trying to live on vitamin B-12 only.

Plants tend to need more light from the blue parts of the spectrum during the early stages and your's aren't getting any. They need more of the reds later in the flowering phase - but your's wont live that long unless you get a decent growlight!

 

I will take out some of the reds and replace them with others if I have to. its a nice size setup. if I get it worked out I'll have a little low power grow box. 20 watts is nice.

 

I forgot, I planned on buying a cool white flourescent. I know, I just thought the red would be good for flowering and I can get a cool light at home depot or walmart.
Amazingly, they are still alive, for now.
The igloo cooler has an inside layer so I could embed some stuff flush in that double area like some fans or bubblers or something.