Test kits are as important than any piece of equipment, how are you going to know what your parameters are if you dont know the current levels? Especialy if you intend to add suppliments like B-Ionic. You add a fish and it dies, then you come here and ask why, we ask you what your parameters are and you say, I dont know... You then buy an ammoinia kit and find out that its off the chart, then you think, why didnt I test first? Absolute minimum would be Ammonia, Nitrate, Nitrite, Ph, Calcium and Alk. If your looking for a cheap hobby, try basket weaving. lol