We got this knowing that we would need chemicals to start.  First problem is the confusion in the picture.  Why does it show steps  I knew the price would not include them, but it is deceiving.  The next problem are some useless chemicals.  We have hard water, so a couple of the bottles will never be used and one for high alkaline water is not included, yet there is a test for it.  Good to start though, but it would be better to have one kit for hard water and one for soft.