Warning: A bigger pump only helps if the filter's capacity is greater than the pump's. If you mean a bigger filter/pump combo (which I believe Intex sells) then that works. A pump that's too big for the filter will, at best, not filter properly, and, at worst, destroy the filter. Most pool owners are sold pumps that are too big, if not for the filter, then for the pool, because it costs more to run than it should.
If your pool is 18' round, then your new pump should turn over your water in about 2 hours, which means you don't need to run it all day.
You'll need a proper test kit and we recommend an FAS-DPD test kit like the Taylor K-2006 or K-2006C, or the Leslies Chlorine FAS-DPD Service Test Kit. It will give you a much better "read" on what's going on in your pool. I got my first FAS-DPD kit when I had an Intext 15x3 donut pool and went through a lot of the same things you did.
There's lots of great EFFECTIVE information here to make your pool care easy and inexpensive....and we ALL know from personal experience that it works.
Carl
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