You don't always have to vacuum to waste. Instead, you can vacuum to your filter and that way you don't waste so much water. (If a pool is really green and full of algae, it is best to vacuum to waste, though.) Secondly, I think you are right that part of your cloudy water problem is due to the high calcium hardness reading. That is really high. You really might want to consider doing a partial drain and refill to lower it. Glad things are looking better.