OK I dumped 1/4 cup lemon juice into the res. tank And checked the ph. The Ph was about 6 and the plants look like they are doing good again.
Pictured with them is mama. The two in the shot are about 1 month old. Light was kept low on them till now.
MAMA will be sacrificed soon too..
My observations are as follows.

The PH is difficult to keep in range.
1/4 cup lemon juice brings it back to 6.0 ( the algae must be eating the Nitrogen and changing the PH) * Must keep close eye on pH*
One dead algae eating fish left to decompose in the water. ( ion generator on so no smell can escape....Cant even smell it in room. Turn off ionizer and room smells like the back of willy nelson tour bus.) Ionizer recommended.
Plants seems to be growing very vigorously.
small amount of scum forming on water surface. ( most likely due to decomposing algae eating fish.)