Hot Tub/Swim Spa Quick Reference Guide
1 | QUICK REFERENCE GUIDE
Welcome
Welcome to the Galaxy Home Recreation family! The following guide is to help you understand your new hot tub or swim
spa and the maintenance needed for it to perform at its optimal level so that you can get the most enjoyable use out of it.
Your spa installation will require the following from you:
1. To decide where you want your new spa situated and the foundation it will sit on
2. To determine the access for us to best deliver your spa
3. Adequate power as well as proper cord length for us to hook up your new spa
4. Accessiblegardenhoseandwatertofillthespa
Different spas have different power requirements. Be sure to check with your salesperson and/or your installation agree-
ment before having an electrician install power to your desired location. Having improper power may result in an additional
tripfeebyGalaxytocomebackandfinishyourinstallandpotentiallyanadditionalcostassessedbyyourelectricianto
comeback and correct the power.
Our Customer Care Team will reach out to you and schedule a day that is convenient for your installation within 2 business
daysofyourfinalizedpurchase.
For questions on scheduling, please call/text our the Customer Care Team at 918.794.7221.
You may submit a service request directly from our website by clicking on the “Service Request” button at
www.GalaxyHomeRecreation.com.
Additionally, help videos can be seen online at www.GalaxyHomeRecreation.com. You may also place chemical
orders on-line and have them shipped directly to your home! Free shipping with any $99 chemical and/or
accessory order.
For questions about your purchase, please contact your local salesperson:
South Oklahoma City: 405.947.6565
North Oklahoma City: 405.546.4050
Broken Arrow: 918.770.7134
Tulsa Clearance Center 918.835.1166
Rogers: 479.250.1320
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Installation Photos
Most homeowners would like to know what their project will look like after installation. Below are some great photos of
our installation and what to expect after the install is completed.
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Before Installation Checklist
Pad For Your Spa: A concrete pad is the best place to set your hot tub and the only recommended place to put a swim spa.
• Hot tub concrete pads should be a minimum of 4” thick. However, if you choose not to use concrete as your hot tub pad, Galaxy does
offer a Spa Pad for up to 8’x8’ hot tubs that can be placed on a level surface in place of a concrete pad.
• Swim spas need a 6” concrete pad reinforced with rebar.
• We do not level hot tubs so make sure your spa pad is as level as possible.
Electrical Requirements: Galaxy sells both 110v hot tubs as well as 220v hot tubs and swim spas. Always refer to the owners manual
for electrical requirements.
• 110 volt “plug-and-play" models typically have no more than 5’ of cord available. Plan for the tub to be close to the outlet. For more
exact cord lengths and to determine if it is a 15 or 20 amp plug please contact your salesperson.
• 220 volt spa can require 40, 50 or 60 amp service. Please see chart below to determine the amps and wires needed for your spa.
SPA 4-WIRE DIAGRAM SPA 3-WIRE DIAGRAM
It is crucial to ensure that your
electrician wires your GFCI
according to the diagrams to the
right. If not hooked up correctly this
could void your spa’s warranty.
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GFCI Box
Whip Cord
Additional 6’ from access corner
of your spa is needed for hook-up
Access to Deliver Your Spa:
• Hot tubs and swim spas vary in height and width. Most hot tubs can be turned on their sides for delivery requiring 4’
-5’ access needed.
• Swim spas can not be delivered on their sides, therefore, there must be 10’ of clearance. Both swim spas and hot
tubs have minimum clearance necessary for delivery so please check with your salesperson on the access needed
for the delivery of your particular spa.
• On more restricted access situations the home owner can often remove a fence panel for delivery of their spa.
• If a crane is necessary it is the customer's responsibility to pay for the crane service
• Please note that installing on a deck or surface higher than 30” off the ground may require extra manpower or the
assistance of a crane.
• Additional costs for such delivery are the responsibility of the purchaser in accordance with your installation
agreement.
Whip Cord Requirements: Have your whip cord ready with plenty of length so we can wire your spa at install
• The whip cord contains the wires needed for us to hook up your spa.
• Refer to the diagrams below for guidance on whip cord location and length.
• Please note that Galaxy charges $99 if a return trip is required to connect the electric to your spa.
• Please have your box and whip cord ready at time of install.
• The whip cord needs to be long enough to go from your GFCI electrical box to inside the hot tub where the
spa pack is located. To figure out the length measure from the GFCI box to either front corner of the tub then
add an extra 6 feet to ensure the whip cord is long enough. If you have any questions please consult your
salesperson or customer care team.
Before Installation Checklist
Location of Your Spa- Please consider the following when planning the location of your spa:
• Location of steps
• Location of GFCI box
• Location of the control panel
• Which way your cover will open
• Size and shape of spa
• Type of Cover Lift you are using and clearance needed
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Cover Lifters
Cover lifters are available for your spa from Galaxy. They make removing your hot tub cover simple and easy! Here are some
examples of cover lifts available.
• Basic Easy Lifter (G-Lyft)
• Hydraulic Cover Lifter (With hydraulic action this is the easiest cover lifter. Especially helpful for those that mayhaveamore
difficulttimeliftingthecoverontheirownorwithSwimSpas.)
• Spa Shelf
• Cover RX
G-Lyft
Hydraulic Lifter
If you purchased a cover lifter with your spa, Galaxy will install it when we deliver your spa provided the required clearance
is available.
G-Lyft: Requires 15- 18” of clearance behind the spa and 6-8" on the sides.
Hydraulic Lift: Requires 6" clearance behind the spa and 6-8" on the sides.
Spa Shelf: Requires 32"
Cover Rx: Requires 18" behind and no clearance on sides
Also keep in mind the height requirements if you are putting your spa under a pergola or other covered area as you will need a
minimum of half the coversizeofclearancetoopenyourcover.Thereisalsocoveroverhangoffthebackofthespathatwillneed
room available to operate. Keep this in mind if you are dropping your spa into a deck or similar.
While cover lifters are typically installed on the back of a hot tub (opposite the control panel), on many square-shaped spas the option
is available to install on the back or on either side if you prefer the cover and the natural privacy the cover creates facing a different
direction. This option is not available on rectangle shaped spas. If you have a rectangle-shaped spa and need your cover somewhere
other than the back there are other options available. Contact your salesperson for information.
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Thank you for your spa purchase from Galaxy Home Recreation!
This voucher
can be used towards your first purchase of water care products for your spa.
We recommend bringing a sample of your tap water to any Galaxy location
for a free water test so our Chemical Specialist
can recommend products specifically suited to you water.
$
79
Salesperson Signature Date Used
Initial Water Care Voucher
Bring this Hot Tub Guide to any Galaxy Home Recreation showroom as well as a sample of your water for
testing. We will provide you with $79 in free water care products tailored specifically to your water’s balance. This
coupon is good for one-time use only and must still be attached to this guide to be valid.
Starting Up Your Spa
The following are the steps needed to get your spa started. This applies to the initial fill-up upon delivery of your spa as well
as each time you drain and refill your spa.
1. Fillyourspawithcleanwaterthroughthefiltercompartment.Neverdoafreshfillbyputtingthehosedirectlyintoyourspa.
Thiscancausean air lock in your jets.Itisfinetotopoffyourwaterleveldirectlyintothespa,however,oninitialandfuture
freshfills,alwaysplacethegardenhoseintothefilterarea.
2. Turn on the power to spa at the circuit breaker.
3. Insert Mineral Stick into skimmer compartment, or skimmer basket. (See mineral stick placement photo on page 7.7)
4. Test and if necessary adjust your water’s balance. pH 7.2 - 7.6; Total alkalinity 80 - 120; and Calcium Hardness 100 - 400.
You can also bring a sample of your water to any Galaxy Home Recreation location and we will digitally test your water and
help explain any necessary adjustments. (See page 8 for test strip and balancing instructions.
5. Add Spa 56 following dosage on bottle. Be sure your cover is open and jets are running. Wait 30 minutes to cover spa or
to get in.
6. Before entering your spa be sure to rinse, not wash your bathing suits and remove all lotions and make-up to ensure your
water stays fresh and clear without foaming.
7. Maintain your water using the Galaxy Water Care Systems Instructions in this guide. (See page 9
For videos on maintaining your spa, testing your water and more, visit our
Resources section on Galaxyhomerecreation.com
7 | QUICK REFERENCE GUIDE
Need products for your spa but can’t make it in to see us? Order from our website and receive
free shipping to your home with any $99 chemical and/or accessory purchase!
www.GalaxyHomeRecreation.com
What is a mineral stick?
Mineral sticks contain silver and copper to help sanitize water and prevent algae. This
allows you to use much less chlorine or bromine sanitizer. Remember when you use a
mineral stick to change it every 4 months when you drain and refill your spa.
Chlorine requirements:
Chlorine 1.5 to 3 ppm (no mineral stick or UV sanitization)
Chlorine 1 to 1.5 ppm with mineral stick and/or UV sanitization
Bromine requirements:
Bromine 3 to 5 ppm (no mineral stick or UV sanitization)
No less than 22ppm Bromine with mineral stick and/or UV sanititzation.
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Reading Your Test Strips
Maintaining proper water balance is critical to having nice, fresh, clean and odor-free water for
your enjoyment in the spa. Keeping your spa’s water balanced is easy and quick taking only a
few minutes per week if done on a regular basis. If you let the water become unbalanced
however, it can be a much more tedious process to bring it back into balance.
Ifyou’renewatreadingteststripsitcanseemalittleoverwhelmingatfirst,butrestassured,
afterafew times you’ll feel like a pro! And remember, you can always bring a sample of your
water to any Galaxy Home Recreation location and we will gladly test your water for you.
On most hot tub test strip bottles you’ll see four readings that you can test for:
• FCI or the Free Chlorine in your water
• Alkalinity
• pH
• CH or the Total Hardness of your water
• With a dry hand pull one test strip out of container (don't touch pads)
• Close the lid
• Make sure the jets are off in your spa
• Dip the test strip into the water at least 6"
• Immediately pull the test strip out and compare it to colors on the bottle
• It's easiest to read the colors in daylight
• Store in a dry cool place
Need products for your spa but can’t make it in to see us? Order from our website and receive free
shipping to your home with any $99 chemical and/or accessory purchase!
www.GalaxyHomeRecreation.com
Testing your water with test strips
Products used to balance water:
• pH/Alkalinity decreaser (Spa Down)
• pH/Alkalinity increaser (Spa Up)
• Hardness increaser (Calcium Booster or Calcium Hardness Increaser)
How to balance your water:
• Follow instructions and dosages on the bottles of any balancing chemicals you purchase.
• Always adjust alkalinity first before adjusting pH.
If you get a free water test at one of our locations your dosages will be calculated for you.
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Weekly Maintenance
• Test your spa water weekly with test strips or bring it into one of our locations for a free test
• Weekly add of stain and scale inhibitor like Protect Plus or Defender to your spa (2 Tbsp for every
400 gallons)
• Add sanitizer to your tub weekly (Spa 56 Chlorinating Granules- 1 Tbsp per 500 gallons)
o FCL or free chlorine reading can be as low as 1ppm when you use a mineral stick
o With cover off and jets on put in the chlorine shock
o Wait 30 minutes before you close the cover
• Add non-chlorine shock after each use
o With cover off and jets on put in the non-chlorine shock
o Wait 15 minutes before you close the cover
Extended Maintenance
• Drain and refill spa every 4 months to coincide with the mineral purifier replacement.
o Turn off your spa at the breaker
o Many spas have built in drain hoses in the cabinet. You can also use a sump pump.
o Make sure to refill your tub by putting your hose in the filter housing to prevent air in the
lines.
• Before draining your tub you may want to add in Hot Tub Serum Total Cleanse purge gel for a
complete cleaning of all plumbing, jets, and shell. This product removes all bio-film and
sanitizes.
• You can clean your spa shell, spa cabinet, and inside your cover with a hot tub cleaner.
o A microfiber cloth or a magic eraser can also be used to wipe down your spa shell or
cabinet.
• Once you have refilled your spa (through the filter compartment) follow instructions on previous
pages to balance your water and add start up chemicals.
• Condition vinyl spa covers every 3-6 weeks with Spa Cover Conditioner.
10 | QUICK REFERENCE GUIDE
For Use With All Water Care Systems
Monthly:
1.
Rinsefiltersat minimum once a month. Use a spa comb attachment to get between pleats.
Every 3-4 Mos: 1.SprayJacuzziFilterCleaneronyourfiltersandletsitfor3 minutesbeforehosingoffwithwaterandre-inserting
into spa..
2. Drain,cleanandrefillyourspa.
3. Clean and protect vinyl covers with cover conditioner. If in direct sunlight 8 or more hours per day, repeat this step
monthly.
4. Replace your Mineral Stick.
Annually:
1. ReplaceCLEARRAYBulbandcleanthequartztubeinJacuzziandSundancespaseachyear.ReplaceAquanova
or Ozone/UVevery2-3years.Seewebsiteforinstructions.
2. Inspectfiltersandreplaceifnecessary.
3. Diverter valves and some jets can be removed and placed in a 5 gallon bucket with Protect Plus or Hot Tub Serum
for extended life.
4. Purge spa with Hot Tub Serum Total Cleanse to rid the jets and lines of buildup and to extend the life of your spa.
Other Tips:
Filtration:
Ifwaterbecomeshazy,testandadjustpHandTotal Alkalinity,thenadd1ozshockRenew per25 gallons. Leave
cover open with jet pump running for 30 minutes.
The continuous filtration pump on 780, 880 and 980 series Sundance and 3, 4, and 5 series Jacuzzi spas are
preprogrammedtooperate8hoursperday.Ifyouencounterwaterclarityissues,increasefilterpumpto24hours
perday. Reference owner’s manual for instructions on how to make this change.
Extended Maintenance cont.
Helpful Hints
• Lotions, makeup, hair products, and detergents can cause foaming. To prevent this you can rinse off before
getting in your spa. Also, it is recommended you have a specific bathing suit that is for spa use only that you
rinse instead of putting through the wash to cut down on detergent. (Foam Down is also available to get rid of
foaming)
• If your water is ever cloudy make sure it is balanced and add shock. If that doesn’t fix it then you can add
Jacuzzi Natural Water Clarifier to help the filter catch the small particles.
• Run your hot tub all year. There is no need to winterize your hot tub or to shut it down for the summer.
Keeping your spa running all year will keep the water and lines clean as well as keep all the parts in working
order.
• Keep your spa at the same temperature. Spas are well insulated, so keeping it at a set temperature for that
season will make less work on the heaters and lower energy costs.
• Check your water level periodically. You can top off the water by putting a hose directly into your spa. The
water needs to always be higher than the filter so that it doesn’t pull air into the filter and lines.
11 | QUICK REFERENCE GUIDE
• Bathing suits that are washed instead of simply rinsed. Soap from washing remains in your clothes and is transferred
into your water causing the spa to foam.
• Using the same bathing suits you use at the lake or beach. It’s always best to have bathing suits that you use
exclusively in your spa. Swim wear that has been used at lakes and beaches will contain bacteria, algae and other foreign
particles that will end up in your spa causing issues with your water.
• Lotions and make-up. Foreign substances in water, such as lotions and make-up will also cause water to foam.
• Non-spa fragrances.Therearemanywonderfulscentsthatyoucanaddtoyourspathataremadespecificallyforspasand
don’t cause foaming. However, use of non-spa fragrances will cause your water to foam.
What to do if your water has foam
Galaxy Home Recreation offers spa defoamer that will provide immediate but temporary relief from a foaming spa. Apply it
directly to the foaming water and you will see the foam dissipate. However, this is not a permanent solution as the cause of
thewaterfoamingisstillinsideyourspa.Forslightfoaming,takingthe filters outandrinsingthemwithafiltercleanerbefore
putting them back in can solve minor issues. If this doesn’t take care of the foaming, you may have to drain your spa, clean it
thoroughly,cleanthefiltersagainandthenrefill.If you must drain and refill your spa you will need to also replace the
mineral sanitizer that’s in your filter area. Be sure to remove lotions and make-up, as well as thoroughly rinse all bathing
suits prior to re-entering your spa.
Remember, we offer free water testing at all of our locations and we will gladly test your water and help you to correct any
issues you may have with your spa.
From time to time your spa water may not look clear or may have a foul smell. This section will help you understand and diagnose the
issues with your water so that you can get it back to its optimal condition.
Most of the issues surrounding the water in your hot tub or swim spa stem from water that is out of balance. When your spa’s water is
not balanced, the Renew and the Spa56 or Shock Extra are not able to operate keeping your minerals and water care products from
killing unwanted bacteria.
This will often result in a foul odor coming from the water as well as cloudiness and foaming.
MostwaterissuescanbefixedsimplybytestingthewaterwithyourteststripsorbringingasampleofyourwatertoanyGalaxy
HomeRecreation showroom where we can digitally test your water. Then, ad
justing the pH and Alkalinity to their proper levels
allowing the shock and chlorine in your water to begin to work as they are designed.
Another common question is about water foaming that is not due to water being out of balance. There are a few things that can cause
your hot tub or swim spa water to foam:
Need products for your spa but can’t make it in to see us? Order from our website and receive
free shipping to your home with any $99 chemical and/or accessory purchase!
www.GalaxyHomeRecreation.com
Troubleshooting Your Spa’s Water
12 | QUICK REFERENCE GUIDE
VIP DISCOUNT CARD
This card is good for 10% off on all chemical
and water care product purchases at any
Galaxy Home Recreation location.
Show this card at checkout or order by phone and mention
this card and we will ship directly to your home. Free
Shipping on any $99 minimum chemical order.
Not to be combined with other in-store or online
promotions or oers.
Hot Tub School
YOU’RE INVITED!
As a Galaxy customer you are invited to our FREE Hot Tub School! A one hour instructional class that
goes over how to use your hot tub, maintain and balance your water and answer any questions you
may have about your new spa. This class is for Hot Tub and Swim Spa customers.
As a bonus, all Hot Tub School attendees receive a 15% discount on all chemical and water care
purchases made during the school. Join us every 3rd Saturday of the month on Facebook LIVE.
You’re a VIP to Galaxy!
WeareexcitedtohaveyouasthenewestmemberoftheGalaxyHomeRecreationfamily!Notonlywill
youfindthatwecontinuallyworktoofferthebestproductsavailabletokeepyourspaworkinggreatbut
we also work diligently in our buying process to be able to offer you the most competitive accessory and
water care product pricing around, both locally and on-line.
Butitdoesn’tstopthere. AsamemberoftheGalaxyfamilyyouarenowalsoourVIP!Thecouponbelow
gives you 10% off all chemical purchases at any Galaxy location for life. Simply cut it out, keep it with you
and present it at the time of purchase every time you stock up on your supplies for your spa.