API has color reagent tests for both GH and KH, although they are titrations so the directions are a bit different than the N/pH tests. In the meantime, some municipalities publish hardness numbers in their water quality reports...but they may not be exactly what is coming out of the tap.
The plants you tried are almost exactly the same ones I would have recommended to try out anyways. Bummer...maybe you just have a "brown thumb"
Your municipal water report (usually on the utility company's website) will at least give you an idea of the water's hardness. Do you know your pH? It is tied to hardness, so that will also give you an indication. The API GH & KH test is pretty cheap.
I do like planted tanks but I don't want all this diy co2 stuff. I figured they would do well Cuz they get lots of natural light through the day but... nothing.
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You could do an african tank if you don't want to do a planted tank. Lost of color and active fish in every section of the water column, I have a colony of frontosa with a bichir and neolamp. Pulchers in my 7x2x2 210 gal and they love it.