pH problems.. read lots of info, still need help!

[Rusty Trichome]

Hey everyone, I'm new here and this is my first grow.

Hey, welcome.

Your Equipment:
.1) Type and wattage of lights. 250w MH
.2) Distance from tops? was very close.. <1 ft, I raised it up to 2ft this week

Likely too far away. Why did you raise it?

18) Do you foliar feed? If so, with what, how often, and at what time do you spray? I started doing this yesterday.. a very small dose of FF grow big misted on the leaves out from under the light, placed under the light when they dried

Good technique, but foliar feeding a stressed plant is usually a good way to compound the problem. A few exceptions, but generally is the case.

I decided to buy a cheap milwaukee test pen. This was a big mistake. I properly stored and calibrated the pen, but always wondered why its readings didn't coincide with my liquid test.

Temperatures affect ph pen readings. This might be the begining of the issue, as to be accurate, you need to test the liquids at the same temps every time. The Milwaukee calibrating solution you mentioned have a chart for this on every packet. (or is it a bottle of calib. solution...?)

I first noticed something was up when I had to add about 12 drops of pH down to a gallon of tap water to get the pen to read in the 6.5-7.0 range. With the liquid test kit, the indicator solution would turn proper color after 2 drops of pH down per gallon. I trusted the pen instead.

Did you put the batteries in, facing the wrong direction? Did you get the circuitry inside the pen wet at some point? Did you drop the pen? Did you need to replace the batteries? Did you remove the electrode at some point, and put it in backwards? Did cleaning the crap off of the electrode help?
If the answers are no to all...likely you let the electrode dry-out, and the electrode will need to be replaced.

Quit checking the runoff with the aquarium test kit. It doesn't do anything but confuse the issue. The liquid depends on a color-coded result. With the runoff being tinted...it skews the results. Guessing the proper ph reading isn't a good idea, nor is it even close to accurate.

FFOF is pre-buffered, but after all your attempts to rectify the ph issue, it might be a tad...what's the word...unstable? ...unusable? Would consider a transplant.

Use your aquarium test kit to determine ingoing water ph, and adjust till it say's you are in range. (twords the high range if nutrient day) After adjusting the water, add nutes. From that point on, your ph test kit is done.
Guessing and assuming are bad habits to get into. Ditch the pen till you either get it fixed, or till you get another one.

When using a commercial potting mix, doubtful you need to worry about runoff ph till nearly mid-flower. (when the buffering agent in the potting mix starts to diminish) Some compost mixes (which isn't a potting mix) are pre-buffered to a lower ph. FFOF is properly balanced.

Did you leave the AzaMax on the leaves, or rinse 'em off afterwards?

Guesswork will make every grow an adventure. (or a horror show)