Is ammonia and nitrate testers seperate?

you really do need the API freshwater master test kit ... it will last you for years and measure everything you need ... at the minimum you need ammonia, nitrites and nitrates tests and to buy all these separately would be almost as much as a good test kit ... if you can not afford it right at the moment, wait, and get the fish store to test your water in the meantime ... and don't let the fish store tell you your water is fine, tell them you need the numbers ... without knowing these three basic water parameters, you will really have no idea as to your water quality ... test strips are a big waste of money so don't buy those ...