🌊 Salt Water Hot Tub Start-Up Guide

Setting up your saltwater spa correctly ensures clean, silky water, longer-lasting equipment, and fewer headaches down the road. Follow these simple steps to get started the right way.

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🧾 Step 1: Soften Your Water

• Test your source water at Premier Pool & Spa before filling.

• Ideal calcium hardness range: 50–150 ppm

• If calcium hardness is above 150 ppm, fill partially with soft water or use our On-The-Go Portable Water Softener.

• ❌ Do not fill entirely with soft water — your calcium level should not fall below 50 ppm. If it does, add Calcium Hardness Increaser.

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⚖️ Step 2: Balance Total Alkalinity & pH

• Once water is heated to 85°F or warmer, test the water using test strips or bring it to Premier Pool & Spa.

• Ideal Alkalinity: 40–120 ppm

• Ideal pH: 7.2–7.8

If pH or Alk is too high:

• Turn on all pumps and open one air diverter.

• Add ¼ cup Spa Down, wait 30 minutes, retest, and repeat as needed.

• If Alk is in range but pH remains high, add 1 tbsp Spa Down every 30 minutes until balanced.

All Weather Pool Adjustment:

• Use ¾ cup Spa Down, wait 30 minutes, retest.

• If pH remains high, add 3 tbsp Spa Down every 30 minutes.

If pH or Alk is too low:

• Add 1 tbsp Alkalinity Increaser, or top off with fresh water.

💡 Most customers use 1.5–2 bottles of pH/Alk Decreaser on a fresh fill.

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🧴 Step 3: Lock in Alkalinity

• Once pH and Alk are within range for three consistent tests, turn on pumps and add:

  • ½ bottle of Simply Soft

• This helps:

  • Stabilize pH and Alk

  • Prevent scaling

  • Improve clarity and water feel

  • Reduce skin and eye irritation

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🧪 Step 4: Establish Sanitizer Levels (FCl)

• With pumps running, add:

  • 1 tbsp Chlorine Concentrate (regular spas)

  • 3 tbsp Chlorine Concentrate (All Weather Pools)

• Test with strips or bring a sample to Premier Pool & Spa.

• Leave cover off for 15 minutes after adding chlorine or shock to allow contaminants to gas off.

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🧂 Step 5: Add Salt

Salt Dosage by Spa Model:

• If not an Arctic Spa, refer to your owner's manual for the appropriate amount.

• Remove filters before adding salt.

• Pre-dissolve ⅓ of the salt in a 5-gallon bucket of hot spa water.

• Add dissolved salt to the spa, wait 1 hour, then test and adjust pH & Alk.

• Repeat for the next ⅓ and final ⅓ portions of salt.

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🌡 Step 6: Test Salinity

• Confirm salinity range: 2200–2500 ppm
  Use Salt Test Strips or bring in a water sample.

• Test salt levels after every water top-off and adjust as needed.

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🧖 Step 7: Enjoy Your Spa!

• For the first couple of weeks, test twice per week.

• Average spa usage: 2 people, 15 minutes, 3x per week
  More use = more chlorine demand or salt generator output.

• After topping off water, retest chemical levels within 1 hour.

• MN water is typically high in alkalinity — topping off may raise pH/Alk and dilute chlorine.

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🔁 Weekly Maintenance Checklist

1. Test Water

   • pH: 7.2–7.8

   • Alk: 40–120 ppm

   • Free Chlorine (FCl): 1–3 ppm

2. Adjust pH and Alk

   • Add Spa Down in 2 tbsp doses as needed

   • If Alk is low and pH OK, monitor pH or add water

   • If both are high, use Spa Down

   • If both are low, add alk & pH increaser or just add water
     

3. Shock the Spa

   • <3 uses/week: Add 1 tbsp Shock every 2 weeks

   • 3+ uses/week: Add 1 tbsp Shock weekly

   • After heavy use: Shock immediately

   • Leave cover open for 30 minutes

4. Optional Weekly Treatments

   • Enzymes

   • Stain & Scale Control

   • Unique Clarifier

   • Scum Balls

   • Pre-Filters

5. Test & Maintain Salinity

   • If below 2200 ppm, add salt in ½ cup increments

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🧼 Seasonal Deep Cleaning

Drain, Clean & Refill Every 3–6 Months:

1. Remove filters and any floating accessories

2. Add ½ bottle of SeaKlear Spa System Flush

3. Run all pumps on high for 30 minutes or overnight on low

4. Drain & clean the spa shell

5. Use a sponge with Spa System Flush to wipe residue

6. Reinstall clean filters

7. Refill and follow the start-up steps again

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💬 Have questions or need supplies?
Contact us — we’re here to help you enjoy clean, balanced spa water every day of the year!