Plants have ceased to grow, leaves yellow.. pH?

As of about 2-3 days ago, I noticed my seedlings have kinda stopped growing and the leaves have taken on a yellowish hue (particularly the new growth) I realized the tap water I was giving them was 8.5+ pH so I immediately went out and picked up some distilled water which is lower between 5 and 6 pH. I got a soil tester (cheap probe type) and it says my soil is around 7 pH. I also got some pH up and pH down. I am assuming that the slow growth/ yellowing of leaves is a pH issue, if so.. can someone give me some advice on how I can possibly adjust it?? Oh, and the seedlings are in FFOF under a 250w MH

Well they dont look bad at all. Those soil probes always read the same thing....trash it.

For starters, you need to buy a digital ph pen/probe and some 7.01 calibrating solution. Check your water and make sure its at 6.5 by using your new digi probe and the ph up/down you have. Be careful cuz that stuff can make drastic changes with only a few drops.

Once you have that down, things should straighten up for ya.

Boneman said:

Well they dont look bad at all. Those soil probes always read the same thing....trash it.

For starters, you need to buy a digital ph pen/probe and some 7.01 calibrating solution. Check your water and make sure its at 6.5 by using your new digi probe and the ph up/down you have. Be careful cuz that stuff can make drastic changes with only a few drops.

Once you have that down, things should straighten up for ya.

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yup, I played around with the pH up and pH down.. wasted a couple gallons of water getting it right, but I can now get my tap water to the proper pH and use it. The pH meter I got sucks, it says the same thing no matter what medium I stick it in, but it has a moisture meter that seems to work. I dont have much money at all, how much do those pH pens/ calibrating solution cost?? how do you test soil with them? or can I just test the run off? Since I took that picture I transfered the small seedlings into larger pots, hoping some fresh FFOF soil that hasnt had its pH all out of wack yet and more root space will help them. Oh yea, I forgot to mention, they are 10 days old from seed. Their second sets of leaves seem to be having a little trouble growing.

honestly i wouldnt use distilled water catch the rain water outside when it rains 99% of the time the ph is perfect

scwascwa said:

honestly i wouldnt use distilled water catch the rain water outside when it rains 99% of the time the ph is perfect

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It doesnt rain all too consistently here and I live in a notoriously poluted area, the rain is probably very acidic here. I think there are other methods of watering plants that do not utilize rain water, I will now be using tap water that is the correct pH and has been given 2 days to sit open. I have seen some nice plants grown with tap water, I can't imagine it being a major problem as long as the chlorine evaporates and the pH is correct.