I have gone through a full grow (going to havest in 3 days) in a vertial hydro system of my own making using all h&g I have no crust on anything res, drain, pump all clean, so I have to say it works. Also I have some plants in the grow that started with BC nutes and others that have been only on H&G the H&G plants are 5 weeks in and the flowers are as big as the BC ones that are 10 weeks in