pH imbalance - how to raise it!

So, I have been hanging out, reading posts, reading more posts, & trying to figure out why my plants keep showing P defenciencies... the pH is too low. I have been trying to grow bagseed before I get the good stuff, so I don't waste my cash.
So far my plants have grown & yet keep showing P defenciency in the veg state. I have used Garden Lime by Organic Traditions to help the pH. It seems to work for about a day & then my pH plummets again. The Nutes I picked up at the store were MG all-purpose food & that also lowered my pH a whole lot. My tap water is reading a pH of 6 (that's odd for tap water) & I don't know what to do to rectify this pH imbalance. I mean, I can change the pH, but, what is the best way to go about it? I have THREE empty pots, waiting for plants & the pH is below 3 in those pots.
Thanks in advance...

so i take it you are doing some sort of hydro?

When was the last time you did a water change? Also stop using your tap water...PH of 6 out of the tap is fucked up..i imagine its got shittons of TDS as well...you are going to have to buy distilled/RO water and provide proper nutrients.

Sounds like you are overloading with pH down based nutes when you are already at a low pH
And DONT use miracle grow... start with soil and water then add stuff to the soil as needed. Preferably organic nutes
With your awaiting pots, flush with like 25 gallons of water if you have already added the Garden Lime aka Dolomite lime and then mix in 2tbsp high N guano per gal of soil and 1 cup earthworm castings to your soil
water with 2 gallons, wait a day, then water again till runoff and check the pH of runoff
if it is below 5 you will need to add baking soda to your water to compensate for the imbalance until it stabilizes while the plants are growing, and you can plant at this point BUT not seeds! The soil is too rich with nutrients at this point and will burn small seedlings. Get some coco fibre and start your seeds in this. Put under humidity dome in a spot with an ambient temperature of 80-85 with 36W flourescent 18" above dome and fan daily. Once they grow to 5" or grow their 3-4th set of leaves transplant to the soil you have prepped. I would recommend sterilizing your soil in the oven for 1 hour at 150-200 degrees just to make sure there are no bugs.
Good luck!
-CC

massah said:

so i take it you are doing some sort of hydro?

When was the last time you did a water change? Also stop using your tap water...PH of 6 out of the tap is fucked up..i imagine its got shittons of TDS as well...you are going to have to buy distilled/RO water and provide proper nutrients.

Click to expand...

he's in soil. based on the info provided

yeah i'm a moron...don't feel right today...your information was much better provided

Its all good man, we all have our moments ^_^

and thank you!
-CC

Thanks for the insight, CC...I don't quite know WT Fas to how I got to this point, but, I'll follow your advice & fix my stuff!!!
I must be reading too much & had a brain overload!

and apparently, my ph meter sucks...so maybe that wasn't the problem so I'll start over again. I just found out there is a hydro store down the street. I got some better soil(Fox Farm) & nutes (Grow Juice) and hope I can keep my 1 plant alive & grow some others as per your recomendations, CC. Thanks once again!!!