The directions are on the back of the bottle. Starting at about a teaspoon per gallon. Depending on the strain do this for the first couple weeks, than go to 2 teaspoons, than up again. Use the last 4 weeks of flowering to slowly bring it down again. Using the last week or so for flushing out any chemicals that may be in them. (am using this for my soil/pot grow. Now in the middle of the cycle so have built them up to almost 3 tablespoons per gallon) But that is not hydroponics so there might be a difference. The Connoisseur line is primo. No need to add the other stuff you spoke off as it does not have the amount of nutrients this does. I add hammerhead and Humbolt honey( carbs) but not sure if they even make a difference. I started using it the first week with the Humbolt Honey.