Looking After Your Spa Water
Whether you are setting up a new spa or getting back into a maintenance routine, keeping your water balanced and your equipment clean makes the difference between a spa you enjoy and one that causes headaches. This guide covers everything from first fill through to weekly upkeep and troubleshooting.
Initial Set-Up
Preparing Your Spa
Whether your spa is brand new or you are refilling after a water change, always start with a pipe degreaser. New spas can have residual water sitting in the pumps and pipes from manufacturing or delivery, which creates ideal conditions for algae. Run the degreaser before filling.
Fill the spa with tap water up to the recommended level, placing the hose in the filter pipe to avoid air locks. Heat to your preferred temperature — 26-36°C is the recommended range.
Mixing Chemicals Safely
Always follow this process when adding chemicals
Fill a clean bucket halfway with spa water.
Add the required chemicals to the bucket and stir until dissolved. Never add water to chemicals.
Activate the cleaning cycle and slowly pour the dissolved solution over the water jetting from the spa jets.
Dosage reference: 1 heaped teaspoon = approximately 6g. 1 heaped tablespoon = approximately 30g. All dosing instructions are per 1000L.
Key Water Targets
Chlorine
1 - 3 ppm
pH
7.2 - 7.8
Total Alkalinity
80 - 160 ppm
Weekly Maintenance Routine
Pick a consistent day each week and stick to it. The routine runs in this order every time.
Shock treatment
Add Spa Shock and activate the cleaning cycle for 40 minutes with the cover off. This removes chloramines and bather waste that accumulate with use.
Dose
30g
per 1000L
Test and balance
Use test strips to check pH and total alkalinity. Adjust to the target ranges above before moving to the next step.
Daily sanitisation
Add your daily dose of Sanitiser Plus to keep bacteria under control between weekly maintenance sessions.
Dose
2 tsp
per 1000L
Repeat weekly until the water reaches the 4-month mark, then drain and refill.
How to Drain and Refill
Remove the filter and set it aside for cleaning.
Run pipe degreaser — add 50ml per 1000L of current water and run the cleaning cycle for 20 minutes. Pause for 30 minutes, then run for another 30 minutes.
Drain the spa and hose out any residue. Wipe down the interior with a damp cloth.
Refill via the filter pipe to eliminate air blocks.
Replace the filter and follow the initial set-up procedure from the beginning.
Troubleshooting
Good Habits to Keep
Always fill the spa from the filter box to prevent air locks in the pump.
Never leave the spa empty and exposed to direct sunlight — UV degrades the shell and seals.
Rinse swimwear in water only before entering the spa — detergent residue is one of the fastest ways to cause foam.
Do not enter the spa with body oils, lotions or sunscreen — these deplete sanitiser rapidly and cloud the water.