Hydro grow seems complicated to me too but I haven't got around hydro set up yet. I think my set up got some of those hydro benefits but without air pump which is less in expense. I already mixed up one gallon of 6.0 pHwater with (3 GH nutes + calmag) per 1ml of each. I'll add this mix to the reservoir for my next watering. Hope that won't overkill her.