My ph is 8.4 to 8.5 in my ponds. It doesn't vary during the day due to the immensely high buffer of 350 mg/l of alkalinty. I have a heck of a time dropping the ph in my swim spa that uses the same water. As soon as I get the ph down in the range that works the best for chlorination with muriatic acid it bounces back.

I have no problem growing fast growing large fish in my high ph, high alkalinity, very hard water.

I'd post pics but think everyone has seen them.

Largest BG so far: 1lb. 8. 1/2 oz.
Largest YP: 2 lbs. 13 oz.
Largest Brook Trout: 6 lbs. 10 oz.
Largest Brown Trout: 12 lbs. +
Largest Rainbow Trout: 9 lbs. 9 oz.
Largest Smallmouth 3 lbs. ? *
Larges Largemouth 6 lbs. *

* Didn't keep them long enough to grow them very large.

If pigs could fly bacon would be harder to come by and there would be a lot of damaged trees.