Quote Originally Posted by JMCFAN
I did a partial drain and fill at the end of the season last year.... I can do it again. I can only seem to get it down past the skimmer and I lose prime..

I use my vacuum and clean the bottom while I pump off into the vacant lot behind me

I will go ahead and do another this evening... damn...3 years on pucks and now I am fighting this...

What can I do to get the hardeness down...?
If you want to get the water lower than the skimmer mouth, use the vac - (* if you're sucking air while 'vac-ing', put the other end of the vac hose in the skimmer) It sounds like the skimmer is your only suction source.
I don't know (and apparently you don't either) if your fill water is the cause of your high CH - is it possible to 'truck in' some low calcium water?