Hello, and welcome to the forum!!

Baking soda and acid don't cause the salt to rise. I don't know why you're getting an increased salt reading--one of the SWCG folks should be by here shortly and can probably answer that one for you.

I just wanted to understand something...you say you are using acid to lower pH, then baking soda to raise alk, then using Borax, which raises pH--why don't you just use the acid to lower the pH to 7.6, and leave the alk alone, since the lower alk is better for stabilizing the pH in a SWCG pool? Otherwise, you are battling yourself with chemicals!!