you reallly should have
ph, alkalinity(or kh), calcuim, salinity(or sg),phosphates, ammonia, nitrItes, nitrAtes,
and for brands, i have aquarium pharm, but many do not like them,i have heard that salifert is good, and seachem seems ot be fine too, i also like fastest, they are real easy to use,
i also have a friend that has tetra kits and htey are real easy ot use and read
one thing i woudl aAVOID is the strips, they are way too easy ot corrupt, not very reliable and not as accurate as others
HTH