I think once you get your ph down to 7.2, and your alkalinity down to 100, you won't have any trouble with cloudy water, even with your high calcium level. I would turn your jets up and let the water aerate, and keep putting muriatic acid everytime your ph gets to 7.5 to knock it back down to 7 - 7.2. This will lower the alkalinity. Do not use the pool shock - use regular bleach or trichlor pucks. The trichlor pucks will keep your ph down and let you add cya, which will be lower since you drained half the water. - So long story short, don't use your water softener, I think you will be fine with the lower alkalinity and lower ph.