To cycle a tank, I'd recommend ammonia and nitrite. When the nitrite is gone, you're good to go. I always forget about pH since I have a meter.
I personally don't like Hagen, but most people here have responded favorably in the past. I guess they can't allbe wrong (or can they?
). I use Salifert, like I said before, for my Ca and alk. I don't currently test anything else. J&L have a couple of test kit brands, so maybe check there also.