Thank you for the reply and hydro lesson. It's easy to get overwhelmed by reading the wealth of information on the forum and talking with Mr Hydro Store.
I hear ya, and you're very welcome. You must keep in mind that the guy at the hydro store is there to make money. Don't get me wrong, I don't think they're all crooks or anything, just be weary and do some research before you buy.
I'm still trying to understand the idea behind enzymes, beneficial bacteria, and fungi or are these not necessary in Hydro with chem ferts.
The short answer is, No, they aren't necessary.
Enzymes can be helpfull as they "eat" dead and decaying roots, etc. that cause root rot and other diseases. However, enzymes are a band-aid fix for an underlying problem. As the saying goes, "An oz. of prevention is worth a lb. of cure". In this case, preventing root rot by keeping a clean rez at the proper temperature (65-68*F) will negate the use of hydrozyme. But it can be usefull stuff to have around in case things do go wrong, which happens to the best of us from time to time.
Beneficial bacteria are great and are actually required when growing in an organic medium as they break down organic materials to the basic nutrients that the plant can use. But when using chemical fertilizers in hydro, it is superfluous as the plants already have the nutrients they need.
Beneficial fungi is where the line gets a little more fuzzy (no pun intended). Fungi like mycorrhize for example, is a naturally occurring fungus that becomes an extension of the plants roots. Its a symbiotic relationship where the fungi pull water and nutrient from the soil for the plant while feeding off the plants sugars. There are two reasons why I wouldn't add it to my rez. 1) They are naturally occuring, the spores are everywhere, so you'll get some benefit from them anyway. 2) You're growing in hydro which is soilless so the roots have easy access to water and nutrients without the need to "pull" anything from soil.
Sorry about the long winded response, but I didn't just want to give you a simple "no" answer without explaining why. In short, if I were you, I'd hang onto the hydrozyme just in case you may need it, but I'd only use it when it was required, ie. dead roots, etc. You don't need beneficial bacteria unless you're growing organically, so ditch that. As for the fungi, I wouldn't use it myself, but you could certainly try it and see how it works for you. As for the other additives, I would ditch them as they're more likely to cause problems than they are to benefit.
Again... Good luck on your growing endeavors.
