Hi Smurff. The forum is quite easy to find your way around when you stop and look at it. I hope you realise this is just part of a much larger site full of information? Click on the FNZAS logo top left of the page to go to the Home Page and see all the information in the various areas there.
The forum is divided into 5 public areas. The first is called Start and that is where we put announcements, you can introduce yourself in the Welcome section, look up what clubs are posting about their meetings or events, or post in the beginner section if you are unsure where your question should go.
The Community Tank section is a general holdall for questions on the broad subjects lists there - cold, freshwater, marine, technical, DIY, diseases and the trade and exchange.
The Members Tanks is just for members to post photos of their aquariums (or ponds) with a detailed list of size, filtration, stocking, plants etc. for others to admire.
The Specialist Corner is just that, for more in-depth questions on specific species and breeding.
Finally there is Other Business where you can post questions to do with the website itself, read about, vote on, or enter competitions. It also has the Off Topic section where you can talk about stuff other than fish.
Have a cruise around the Home Page and see what else there is to see :thup:
Finally, the important tests are really ammonia, nitrite and nitrate. pH can be useful too. Some people test weekly and others never bother at all. If something goes wrong in your tank, the first thing you will be asked is the readings for ammonia, nitrite and nitrate. This will give you a good idea of what you problem may be and how to correct it. A bigger tank is actually easier to look after and should be more stable than a smaller one so less testing required.
Whether you buy an all in one kit or individually is up to you. I think the all in one's are often cheaper but don't actually know as I have not tested my own tanks for years. Check the use by dates on them before purchase. pH tests will last for years but the others do not.
This is the What's Up? thread where members tell us what they have been up to lately.