I ph'd the runoff water once when I was having the issue and it was 4.3. Because of my fill being opposite from the drain, I assume most of the water draining has been sitting for a few days at least. I've heard so many people say that growing this way, unless it is way off, ph doesn't matter. Of course none of them say exactly what they mean by "way off". I think 1 did mention the 3's. My ro/tap water runs around 7. I'll do the whole test bit Sun. of b4 and after.
It's all a bit confusing. Most of the info I see is about Living Soil which gets top watered and basically the worms convert the soil/nutrients into what the plant needs. With the sips we are bottom watering and I'm not sure of the importance of the worms. Kind of interesting is there is a gal in Cali that grows very close to a river. All she does is top dress with compost. Doesn't do any watering. Says the plants draw the water from the river. Been doing it for years and has won many 'cups".