I've never known anyone to succeed at removing extensive old iron stains with anything other than acid washing; I'm not saying it's never happened, but I've not seen it.
So, the bad news is, most of what you spent on chemicals probably is just down the drain. The good news is that, under most codes, a pool doesn't have to look good to be used. And it certainly doesn't have to look good to be safe. If the water is clear, and the chlorine is sufficient, and the pH is between 7 and 8 . . . the pool is probably safe to swim in. (I don't know your local code, so I don't know if your local authorities would agree, however.)
However, your circulation is not adequate, as you know.
Whether you can fix it or not -- without major renovations -- depends on your piping. If you have (3) 2" pipes coming from the pool, and (2) 2" pipe returning to the pool . . . you probably can. If the pipes are 1.5", your options are limited. (Remember, pipe sizes are ID, not OD -- 2" PVC is about 2.5" OD.)
At this point, I can make three, rather strong, suggestions:
#1 - Get a Taylor K2006C (2 oz bottles) test kit. No matter what else you do, you'll need to have, and use, that kit.
#2 - Get a couple of Taylor K1000 test kits for daily quick and dirty testing.
#3 - Get a copy of your local code, and find out how it's enforced.
Also, if you want further help from me, please take a full set of photos -- pool, stains, piping, pump, filter, etc. -- and email them to poolforum AT gmail DOT com.
One more note: it's may be possible to remove those stains with sodium hydrosulfite. You can test that by
a) buying a bottle of Iron Out (detergent section at Walmart),
b) soaking a sponge in a saturated solution of that,
c) putting the sponge and some excess solution in a baggie,
d) putting the baggie in the pool near a stained area,
e) opening the baggie and sliding the sponge out quickly (underwater, I presume)
f) compressing the sponge against a stained area, and holding it there for 2 minutes.
If you have asthma, have some else do it -- hydrosulfite can trigger an attack. Also, whoever does it should wear gloves.
Good luck!
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