Need help before laying out bottom rails of new above ground pool, please.

[Dneil]

In our home, if you want it, you got to do it yourself. Lol so, I bought the molena 21'x54" round above ground pool. I staked out the pool, with the extra foot all the way around. I learned about using a water level, built one and on Easter Morning, this 51 year old, ambitious woman, got to work!
Found my lowest point, brought the soil down to level. There's a few spots where I accidentally took about a half inch too much earth out. So, what is the fix for this? Do I start over? Can I patch those few spots and water, tamp, water. Also, once I'm at perfect level, do I add anything to the virgin ground before the bottom rails and 2"x8"x16" concrete construction papers, or do I put those papers each 2" in the virgin ground...and call for my mason sand that's placed inside the pool to be spread, leveled and tamped?
Please keep in mind, I am in Northern Michigan. So, the ground does freeze.
I've read some people get stone dust and spread, level and tamp the whole area. Is this what I need to do? Do I just tell the company I need stone dust, or is there a specific name?
Any guidance is very appreciated. My mind wants to start putting this pool together, but since I've been doing this 'all by myself' my wise soul is saying, "don't rush this sister! One mistake could destroy your vision of the pool results you are wanting. So. I'm slowing my roll and reaching out to you amazing people. Your guidance will ease my mind!
Here is what I've accomplished.. pictures are taken in different spots.

 

[HermanTX]

Welcome to TFP.

Maybe @Mdragger88 can provide some insight to your questions.

 

[Dneil]

Welcome to TFP.

Maybe @Mdragger88 can provide some insight to your questions.

Thank you! I don't want to go any further until I'm clear on what suggestions you guys have.

 

[Dneil]

I believe it's ok to be within a few centimeters of each measurement, yes?

 

[Mdragger88]

Kudos to you !
Your 1/2” of smoothing it in a couple spots is more than likely ok
Most manufacturers stipulate it should be within an inch.
obviously you want it as level as possible and you definitely want all the paver tops and all around the bottom rail the exact same level.
In the middle the sand may or may not be helpful with smoothing lol.
Keep in mind that people dish out the middle so a spot or two won’t hurt anything it just may be a little lumpy.
With sand you will end up with some divots at some point anyway.
You can rent a transit/laser level from a big box store if you need to.
We used one to confirm our top rail was maintaining its level as we filled & it was comforting to see.
as far as the gravel dust. It is commonly used although I have no experience there.
@phonedave may shed some light as to how important it may be in your area/with your soil.
A couple notes as you go along on this journey…
While doing everything alone is admirable, putting up a pool wall and a liner alone is not generally recommended for newbies.
This is mainly due to the time it takes to go at it alone. Its kind of a race against the wind and weather so more people/hands is better. The sooner you can start filling the lower your risk of wind damage is. If you must take a break whilst building be sure to secure your walls to help prevent damage (bungees staked into the ground is a common method)
I am sure you have probably watched a million videos but you will probably see this in some of them - along with using rubber tipped clips to temporarily secure the liner as needed.

Never fill at night- just resume filling the following morning once the sun wakes up
Ideally you would start on the wall early in the morning and be filling the pool by the afternoon when the sun is shining and helping with pliability.
Throw a pool raising party to get help

You likely already have this bookmarked but I’ll leave it here for you anyway

How to level above ground pool - Further Reading

www.troublefreepool.com

 

[Dneil]

Kudos to you !
Your 1/2” of smoothing it in a couple spots is more than likely ok
Most manufacturers stipulate it should be within an inch.
obviously you want it as level as possible and you definitely want all the paver tops and all around the bottom rail the exact same level.
In the middle the sand may or may not be helpful with smoothing lol.
Keep in mind that people dish out the middle so a spot or two won’t hurt anything it just may be a little lumpy.
With sand you will end up with some divots at some point anyway.
You can rent a transit/laser level from a big box store if you need to.
We used one to confirm our top rail was maintaining its level as we filled & it was comforting to see.
as far as the gravel dust. It is commonly used although I have no experience there.
@phonedave may shed some light as to how important it may be in your area/with your soil.
A couple notes as you go along on this journey…
While doing everything alone is admirable, putting up a pool wall and a liner alone is not generally recommended for newbies.
This is mainly due to the time it takes to go at it alone. Its kind of a race against the wind and weather so more people/hands is better. The sooner you can start filling the lower your risk of wind damage is. If you must take a break whilst building be sure to secure your walls to help prevent damage (bungees staked into the ground is a common method)
I am sure you have probably watched a million videos but you will probably see this in some of them - along with using rubber tipped clips to temporarily secure the liner as needed.

Never fill at night- just resume filling the following morning once the sun wakes up
Ideally you would start on the wall early in the morning and be filling the pool by the afternoon when the sun is shining and helping with pliability.
Throw a pool raising party to get help

You likely already have this bookmarked but I’ll leave it here for you anyway

How to level above ground pool - Further Reading

www.troublefreepool.com

Thank you so much! Oh yes! That wall is going up with the help of 5 men. That part is not happening alone. S$***, I can't even lift the box it is in! I've got two wise men, and 3 young souls to help with that.
So, I put the bottom rail together and I can see I've got a few areas where the bottom track has void of sand ( it's not all resting on the soil). One area is about 3 inches, the other is like 5 inches. I'm not sure how my anal ways allowed for this error. Can I maybe add something there? What about if I took my tracks apart, bought some gravel and tamped a ring of gravel into the sand all the way around? Just to be sure everything is legit solid? Our old pool was a best way and we put play sand under it. We'll, getting rid of that play sand has been a beast. I'm still pulling piles out from areas. Each morning more appears!
I don't want a full gravel base, but what about an 8 inch ring of gravel tamped area for the bottom rail/tracks to sit on? I hear gravel will help drain water while maintaining a solid foundation? Would it hurt? Has anyone tried this? After this, I never want to pick up a shovel again... lol I want to get this right and it has taken me forever to get this level. Now, I'm with two areas that have a spot under the track with no freaking sand.
I should have paid someone to do the leveling.

 

[Mdragger88]

I hear ya on the digging! I did my own for an multiple intex pools but i had my big pool installed and it was definitely worth it. Their little bobcat made light work of the dig 🪏 the whole thing was done & filling with water by the afternoon and mine is even buried in the side of a hill.
About your level discrepancy,
You want the bottom track to be laying on the undisturbed hard ground- not the sand. The paver tops should be flush with the hard ground- aka - sunken.
The sand bottom and cove are there for the liner to rest on inside the pool wall and be more comfortable under foot not for the pool wall & bottom track support. The cove’s purpose is to prevent the liner from making its way under the bottom of the wall.
The sand will become compressed under the weight of the water and can get pushed out under the wall if the wall and supports aren’t on the virgin ground level and instead on the sand.

Have a look at this build

I would advise against building up any dips/low spots & instead shaving the rest down to be more closely level (at least within a couple inches)