5.0 is serviceable, not ideal, but you can grow a happy plant with that. I recommend using purified drinking water. Chances are you're just overdoing it with the water and noots! I used to love my plants to death and see the same thing. Just give it a little water in the seedling stage, like 1/8 a water bottle a day, maybe not even that. you gotta make sure the molasses and seaweed is pre diluted or else you can get root rot, nutrient burn, damping off, and a whole lot of bad shit. Just let her grow, don't overdo it and all will be fine, I did all this and look at my girl (25 days)