[How and what for should I test my water?]

Hello fellow fish keepers.

I really want to be better about testing water parameters, but every time I do it takes me 30 minutes to an hour. I have tests for PH, ammonia, Nitrite, Nitrate, Phosphate, Copper, GH, KH, Calcium, and Iron. What do I need to test for and what can I skip? And how often?

[Are there any microorganisms that I should worry about/look out for?]

Maybe Hydra. I've never run into them but I've heard they can eat fry and baby shrimp. Also dragonfly nymphs can eat smaller fish.

[What Plants can I Float?]

Hi. I recently got a shipment of plants from Aquarium Co-op but I have less than 1 inch of substrate in the 20 gal I want to plant. Would it be ok if I floated some plants for a day or two while I get the substrate for the first tank. I am currently floating pearl weed, bacopa carolinia, water wisteria, and water sprite. Can I also float Crypt Wendtii and Crypt Lutea for a couple days while I get substrate?

 

Also, any suggestions for hardy plants I should try next?

[How large and/or heavily planted would a tank have to be to support two male bettas?]

I've heard that bettas in the wild will generally retreat instead of fighting another Betta and that got me wondering, How large and/or heavily planted would a fish tank need to be to support two or more bettas. I am asking this because I am curious and not because I am considering this for a setup.