Howdy Zack, Most ants will not harm the plants except for leaf cutter ants and the ants that use aphids (or their 'dew') for their food source. I have had infestations of carpenter ants (most likely going for the water in the hydro reservoir). I got rid of them by spraying Raid ant and roach killer around the bottom of the reservoirs and on and around the supports. Do not spray directly on Your plants! I have also used the combat ant killing bait strips. The bait strips take a little longer, but kill off the colony (the ant eat the bait and take it back to the nest where it is shared and kills the nest). Some ants could even be beneficial by eating other insects and larvae that could harm Your plants.
Good luck with getting rid of them.