We all like to keep an open mind but not so open our brains fall out. LOL

It's all about finding what works for you. Maybe look around for a garden shop that has aquatic plants and nutes for those. Otherwise keep doing what your doing.

How are you testing PH ? Maybe why it looks high. Test strips are hard to jugde and meters can be off calibration. My meter went out once and I had my PH down in the 3's. LOL.