1. FC
2. Yes.
3. I would try a pint of muriatic acid at a time. Wait a couple of hours, then retest pH and see how far it moved. If not low enough, add another pint and repeat.

1. Follow Ben's bleach dosing instructions instead.
2. Follow Ben's directions to lower alk.

You can read more about lowering alk here:

http://www.poolsolutions.com/gd/lowe...p-by-step.html