I knew I had read that somewhere, probably on the old forum from you? Anyway, thank you. We don't think it needs to come up more than a foot or even that much. Just enough to level it out - digging down to level would cause seepage.

So retaining wall bricks or pavers 2' out from the edges for support/wall/edge if we go up 6-8" or up to 1' (after leveling/tamping) then our sand for the bottom/coving? Do we put landscaping fabric or plastic over that before the sand? Would we want more than 2" of the fine sand for the pool bottom if putting on top of this stuff?

We plan on using landscaping plastic/fabric around the edges, then pea rock around the outside. No shrubs or plants so we don't have to deal with roots going up, in or under. Some potted stuff if anything.

Thank you! So appreciated. The pool is scheduled for delivery Monday. We won't be able to start set up for a while as frost is still in the ground and not thawed, but its getting there. Probably last week of April, start of May. We are soooo excited. Big job, messy yard, but years of enjoyment to come!