God help me...am I the dumbest person ever or what?

I have to be the stupiest person I know,I started about 1 month ago.3 in the dirt,2 in a mini bubbler.so I tranfered my two in the mini bubbler into a bigger bucket,I saw how fast that one was growing,so I decided to be smart and take my plants out of the dirt,gave them a good washing,and make a bubbler for them as well.so I decided to take a couple of clones off of the plants that were orignially in the dirt,just in case these didn't make it.I read the directions on the rockwool package and I added some lemon juice and fertilizer(very little) in a cup and I soaked the rockwool in it for a little while,took the clones,no problem.*my plants that started in water were looking good at this point(they are in a separate bucket from the other 3)I saved the cup of lemon juice,water,and fertilizer.Now a couple of days go by,So I checked the ph of the plants originally grown in water and the ph said some like 6.2 so I added the lemon juice,water,and fertilizer to the bubbler to bring the ph back down.I thought it was a good idea at the time,by the time I got home from work,I was devistated,it looked like I really messed up.But that not the end,the other bubbler(containing the plants grown in soil)housed some very sick looking plants as well.This lemon juice formula didn't touch this bubbler.we'll call the plants originally grown in the water "bucket 1" the ones originally grown in soil "bucket 2" I changed the solution in bucket 1 because I thought I messed up by putting that lemon juice formula in there.it's a day later and bucket 1 isn't looking better,I looked at the roots of bucket 2 and they looked really slimy,then I saw new roots growing out,1 of the plants got so bad that I had to clone the top,by the way all 3 clones are doing good so far.I will not be able to get a tds/ees pen until next week,I need a solution for now.please somebody!!!I've grown to love my plants and there dying already.I have a cheap ph meter.I also bought a thing that tested for ferts but when I got home,I read it wasn't for water.I am growing under a 400 watt MH about 3 feet away.Note:bubbler 1 has two plants in one pot,1 plant is just very little.Current conditions bubbler 1 even after adding ph down yesterday my ph is back close to 7,how is this possible.I will add some more ph down right now.it is at 5.7 now.Bubbler #2 is at...holy shi... almost 8!
Can the ph flucuate in a day like that? Do I have to check the solution everyday?I am posting some pics please give me feedback

Ps I'm sorry about making a novel out of this but I am really concerned.Thanks

Hello Guy...

How about just running 6.0 PH water in your system for 24 hours.. NO fertilizers NO nutrients... just flush the plants and start from scratch...

You should consider getting REAL ph up/down solution.. This will help you regulate your PH without the major fluctuations..

Is there anything burning near or around your plants? sulfur, cigarrets, ganja? just curious : )

garden known I have "real ph down" thats what I just did to get the ph from around 8 to 5.8.Yes I smoke ganja in the room

DONT smoke in the room.. especially if you have air hoses.... SMOKE can drastically effect your PH..

iloveyou

yeah air conditon is very important, but by the looks of the leaves they seem to bre getting heat streess!, i know you said ya had the lamps three foot away , but what temps do the leaves get??they look very de hydrated and curled down the edges!. you should always stabalise the arlita b4 using it { ph that is } normally by soaking over night or 24 hrs is ok, but for the amount of arlita ya have its alot of fluctuation!, thow much water is there in the bucket! and how much of the pot sits IN the water?,,
the evapouration of water will also effect the ec and PH of the solution, the less solution ya have the quicker the fluctuation occours,its the old piss in a puddleand it turns yellow,however if you piss in a lake!,,definately need to concentrsate in making a goood enviroment for your plants especailly in hydro, GOOD AIR as mentioned previously is a must,
good luck!