One word of advice from a relative newbie: Don't buy cheapo test kits. The API/Hagen ones aren't very accurate and their colours are much harder to discern between. 
 
Pay for a decent test kit now (Seachem, Salifert, Elos, Red Sea, etc.) and save money in the future on lost livestock and wasted time. 
		
	
		
		
		
		
		
	
		
		
	
	
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