Willoughby

This is the 21th day and the symptom is very slow growth and the leaves are dark green as well as they're stunted and malformed. I am using tap water that has been filtered.  There is clearly a white residue but I don't know if it's salt.  If' it's salt I don't know where the salt could come from it's filtered water....unless the carbon filter cannot remove whatever is causing the salt.  For the first week of veg I did not check the PH and when I did it was shockingly high at 7.5 so I've been checking it everyday now. Everyday the PH creeps up.  I am using a total of 2 TSP or 10ml of Nutrient to put me at 500ppm.  So I've made some changes I've started it on the Flora Series Nutrient Program specifically made for hydroponics that was 10 days ago additionally I'm adding in just a little of the fox farm nutrient. I've also lowered the water level to the bottom of the clay maybe 1/4 to 1/2 inch of the clay pebbles in the water. So I'm having fun with it....I'm thrilled it's still alive and I'm learning this is the learning curve. I have a backup plant I'm growing in soil so if it doesn't make it it's not the end of the world.