Makes perfect sense Thanks! I I'm not dosing yet, could said alk be replenished via water changes?If cost is a big concern, the cheapest way to get started is to only measure alkalinity. Then when alkalinity is low, replace it with a balanced calcium and alkalinity method. You really won't get too far off by doing that. Calcium will stay about where it is in your starting salt mix, so if it starts OK, it will stay OK. Same for magnesium if you are using a good quality two or three part additive system that includes an appropriate amount (as my DIY does). I've not used it for a long time, and I've not cost compared it to anything recently, but the Salifert kit is a good choice for alkalinity.
Nitrate and phosphate are useful, but not critical in all situations, especially if you have no algae issues. If I were to test for very low phosphate, I'd probably get the Hanna phosphorus checker, but the Hach PO-19 phosphate kit is also very good for values above 0.03 ppm (not cheap either).
I'd never buy any pH kit. I'd always get a meter. Even a cheap one can be checked, if not calibrated, unlike a kit.
Last I was measuring alkalinity, I did DIY titrations with a standard acid (purchased) and a pH meter.
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