Actually, if you insist, there is a way to somewhat test the water on your own rather than using your tank for a testtube.
Get a TDS meter. That will tell you your Total Dissolved Solids but it won't tell you what those solids are. But if you let water dry in a bucket, is there residue? Could be calcium if you run through limestone. But there could be other things.
So get some polyfilter---pricey, but you can cut it into bits. Put a bit in your water. The color it turns will tell you if it's copper, or iron, or whatever.
Unless your water is uncommonly good, you will get metals readings.
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Sk8r
"Make haste slowly." ---Augustus.
"If anything CAN go wrong, it will, and at the worst possible moment."---St. Murphy.
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