You say add the CYA over the next month or so? I'm glad you said something, I would have probably tried to add it too quickly. I have two skimmers, should I put a sock in both? How much
Yes, it's safe to swim while all of this is going on.
A sock in each skimmer will be fine, just not so full that it totally blocks water flow.
Always add chemicals like CYA or baking soda in "stages".
So, with CYA of 30, add enough to get to 40 in the socks. Then to get to 50 Then to get to 60
For the TA, add baking soda to get to 50, then to get to 60.
First, you do this to keep from overshooting your target. Second, your pool may be slightly smaller than you think. While the builder may have called it 23k, it may only be 21k filled ot the middle of the skimmer. Watch what happens when you add chemicals. If you constantly overshoot where you think you should be, you probably have the wrong volume.
In Lexington, I got most of my things like CYA at Lowes or Home Depot. I hate WalMart, but did go there for the baking soda.
Remember, as you raise the CYA you need to raise your target FC
Your pH is fine right now, when it gets to 7.8 or so then add acid. Don't shoot for a perfect pH, but keep it in a range. You will never be able to keep it at exactly 7.3 lets say, but in the 7.3 - 7.8 range is easy. For all numbers, we generally don't chase a single perfect number , but keep it in range.
For acid additions, I never measured. Measuring is just a possibility to spill it. So, when adding acid -
Safety first.
Wear old clothes and eye protection. I like to get in front of a return on my hands & knees and splash a little water on the pool deck. Then open the acid bottle and partially submerge it in the water. Tilt the bottle to pour the acid in at close to water level, but don't let the bottle get submerged. I don't measure because it's an additional step for me to spill the stuff.
Remove the bottle from the water and set it down in the puddle on the pool deck while you replace the cap. Try not to breathe the fumes.. Guess a little low on amount you need, then test again after it circulates well. You can always add more.