I second Gary's comment about making sure you are accurately reading ph. If you do not have a ph probe and calibration fluid, as well as some detailed instructions on how to use them, you can't be sure about what your ph is. Color ph tests, other than Salifert (if they make one) are notoriously innacurate. Ph probes must be carefully calibrated with fresh calibration fluid. If you have been adding KW mix, that's your reason.

If all you have added to your tank is R.O. water and salt mix, it's pretty unlikely that you have a ph of 8.6.

Most importantly, WELCOME! to MAAST.