First let me say, welcome to the forum to both of you!

dallas -- probably best to start your own thread for replies rather than combining with this one. It is hard to help two separate problems within the same thread. Start a new thread and then I'll delete your post in this one. (Anybody who wants to reply to dallas, please do so in his new thread instead of here.)

tshirt25 -- We really need a current set of water testing results taken with a drops-based kit (no teststrips)to be able to better advise you. Repost with your numbers and somebody here can help you get this cleared up.