Ok so I just tested the water and the instructions say to read the test tube against the white area of the color chart; I feel silly asking but does the tube need to be held against/touching flat on the white area or just in front of the card but not touching? I'm having a hard time reading the PH, ammonia and nitrate because the colors look different if I hold against the card or I front of it.
There are no silly questions.
What test kit are you using? I am going to assume it's an API kit. Once you get your tank cycled and you no longer are testing ammonia, nitrite or even PH, you will likely want to invest in a good test kit. Red Sea makes excellent kits and they are much easier to read.
To help answer your question - usually in front is easiest. But if you are testing ammonia and nitrite and you get any color that does not look like zero - this means your tank is not cycled yet. You will know when you have nitrates - there's a big change in color lol.
Once your cycle is complete, and if you plan on keeping a reef tank, you will want to monitor your alkalinity, calcium and magnesium levels as well as your phosphates and nitrates. A lot of people use the Hannah checkers for phosphates or nitrates.
Test kits are expensive and about the least exciting purchase you will make, but they are worth it
Right now everything is new, but after a couple of tests, you will be able to judge better the change in the colors and how they line up to the API color bars. And don't panic over test results. (Which is easier said than done at the beginning!).
Post your results up here including pics of the test results if you want - you will get some good advice and help that way.