thanks for the info.. yeah the yard being level is my biggest fear that i hope i get right! i mean im starting out on a pretty flat part of my yard as is so thats a plus but im sure its not 100% perfectly flat if measured with a level . i will be tackling that part all this week and next while waiting for the pool to arrive. i did decide on going with the intex 24x52 that comes with the sand & salt water system btw , not the filter pump. they specifically say not to install it on sand though in the instructions i read on there site so im kinda confused what to do about all that. should i just make sure the yard is definitely flat then install the tarp over the grass then the pool or should i do a few inches of sand on top of the tarp or vice versa? with the amount of water the pool holds ( 12k + gls ) i doubt i will be planning on draining it at the end of the season but all depends i guess. read alot of reviews of people keeping them up for 3-5 yrs yr round so.. i will def be doing alot of searching and reading on the site for sure.