you need your own test kit. When my tanks are bad, I test daily. Driving to a shop daily would be silly. They are worth the seemingly expensive price they are. I recommend aquapharm kit that includes pH, nitrate, nitrite, ammonia. It may seem like a lot to put all the tubes in the water, but actually it isn't, and you don't need to run every test every time. Test strips are a waste as they are unreliable. You can get the stuff on the internet, but I am in a kick of supporting local small businesses and they should have it too.
When you have the test and find your ammonia is high, you should use ammo lock...in other words don't waste your bottle. It is a good product. For a bit more economical choice I use prime. BOth bind up ammonia making it not dangerous fo rthe fish but still usable by good bacteria. Follow the directions on the bottle. It will also dechlorinate/dechloramine your water. I question that it does more than that...one claims to lower no2 or no3. But what you're going to find is that if you haven't cycled your tank (read the stickies on this and look up the nitrogen cycle on the net) is htat is it going to be a very dangerous place for your fish unless you keep ammonia and nitrite down during the first few weeks. frequent water changes will be necessary. And you should not at anything else living until this is done, about 2 months depending on how things go.
I would maybe use those other chems, since you have them, I wouldn;t recommend going out and buying more. That is left to your research. perhaps if you see noticable difference in fish behavior with or without. I am not one for chemicals like that.
Don't use the pH stuff.
The next time you go, demand that he tell you what he is testing or doing or recommending and why- nicely I mean. he may have thought you knew or he was caught up in what he was doing and didn't think. I used to be a teacher, so I look at things from an educaiton stand point. Don't be afraid to sound stupid...cause you won't. And you'll learn stuff. If I know another solution and I think the shop is questionable, I ask "well why not this...", you gotta pick their brain. I want to know why a shop is selling me every single thing and if something sounds questionable, you should go research first- at least before you put it in your tank. Pretty soon you'll have tons of info in your head and when you see someone else in your situation, you'll have a lot to offer.
Most of all have patience. try to keep you tank stable and healthy and stable and stable. (I have a hard time with patience and my tanks).
good luck
