Inflatable hot tub chemicals
Inflatable hot tub chemicals match those used in hard tubs: chlorine sanitizes, while other products adjust pH and alkalinity. You only change the amounts you add. You add far less product because most inflatables hold between 177 and 297 gallons (669 to 1,123 litres).
- Shock for a 177 gal (669 L) tub
- 0.35 oz (10 g)
- Target level for free chlorine
- 3 to 5 ppm
- Desired pH range
- 7.2 to 7.6
- Goal for total alkalinity
- 80 to 120 ppm
Inflatable hot tub chemical doses for each tub
Since doses depend on gallons, small tubs need small scoops. The EPA-registered dichlor label says to shock at 1 oz per 500 gallons. These figures come from scaling that rate down.
| Tub | Gallons | Shock dose (dichlor) | pH down, 7.8 to 7.5 | pH up, 7.2 to 7.5 | Alkalinity up 10 ppm |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
 Lay-Z-Spa Miami | 177 gal (669 L) | 0.35 oz (10 g) | 0.18 oz (5 g) | 0.23 oz (7 g) | 0.39 oz (11 g) |
 Bestway SaluSpa | 177 gal (669 L) | 0.35 oz (10 g) | 0.18 oz (5 g) | 0.23 oz (7 g) | 0.39 oz (11 g) |
 Intex PureSpa 4 person | 210 gal (795 L) | 0.42 oz (12 g) | 0.21 oz (6 g) | 0.27 oz (8 g) | 0.46 oz (13 g) |
 MSpa Meteor | 245 gal (930 L) | 0.49 oz (14 g) | 0.24 oz (7 g) | 0.32 oz (9 g) | 0.54 oz (15 g) |
| Lay-Z-Spa Helsinki | 297 gal (1,123 L) | 0.59 oz (17 g) | 0.3 oz (8 g) | 0.39 oz (11 g) | 0.65 oz (19 g) |
| Large hard tub, for scale | 500 gal (1,893 L) | 1 oz (28 g) | 0.5 oz (14 g) | 0.65 oz (18 g) | 1.1 oz (31 g) |
Leslie's says a teaspoon is about 0.17 oz, making a 0.35 oz shock equal to about 2 teaspoons rather than a cup. pH amounts come from the Leslie's spa chart, while alkalinity amounts follow the CPO dosage tables. Follow your product label if it lists a different dose.
Do not put chemicals in the water while anyone is inside. Your skin and eyes could get irritated, Intex warns.
Inflatable hot tub chemicals by brand
Both Lay-Z-Spa and Intex build their care routines using chlorine. Bestway provides a bromine starter kit along with a ChemConnect dispenser for chlorine tablets, while the MSpa manual lists its own water goals. These gallon figures come from the manufacturer or seller.
| Brand | Gallons (litres) | Sanitizer the manufacturer names | Water targets |
|---|---|---|---|
| Lay-Z-Spa Miami to Helsinki | 177 to 297 gal (669 to 1,123 L) | Use chlorine granules for shocking and slow tablets to maintain levels. | Maintain chlorine at 3 to 5 ppm, pH from 7.2 to 7.6, and alkalinity between 80 and 120 ppm. |
| Intex PureSpa 4 and 6 person | Sizes listed are 210 gal (795 L) as well as 290 gal (1,098 L). | Place chlorine tablets smaller than 1 in (2.5 cm) inside the floating dispenser. | Keep chlorine at 2 to 4 ppm, pH from 7.2 to 7.6 (max 7.8), and alkalinity at 80 to 120 ppm. |
| Bestway SaluSpa Hot Springs AirJet 4 | 177 gal (669 L) | Bestway sells a bromine starter kit too; the box has a ChemConnect dispenser. | No figures appear; change the water once every 1 to 3 months. |
 Coleman SaluSpa, sold by Bestway | 177 to 314 gal (670 to 1,189 L) | Takes the same ChemConnect dispenser as SaluSpa | Not listed |
| MSpa Carlton to Meteor | 184 to 245 gal (700 to 930 L) | Chlorine or bromine sanitizes; the tub ships with a dispenser, and certain models also feature UVC or ozone. | Maintain chlorine at 3 to 5 ppm, pH from 7.2 to 7.6, and alkalinity between 80 and 120 ppm. |
Intex allows chlorine from 2 to 4 ppm in its manual; the CDC standard for any hot tub is 3 ppm at minimum. Both rules are met if you hold 3 to 4 ppm. While using the tub, Intex says to take out the floating dispenser. Use the spa ranges found in the hot tub chemical calculator when a brand shows no targets.
Lay-Z-Spa chemicals: what the guide states
The chemicals guide from Lay-Z-Spa suggests its ClearWater line and calculates every dose using it. Start each fresh fill with a chlorine shock.
- Shock the new water. Mix chlorine granules into warm water in a jug, then pour it in. Let the AirJets run a few minutes.
- Test after waiting 24 hours. Dip in a test strip. Chlorine levels should show 3 to 5 ppm.
- Fix alkalinity first. Target a range of 80 to 120 ppm. A 10 ppm rise in 264 gallons (1,000 litres), as a guide, needs an alkalinity increaser dose of 18 g (0.63 oz).
- Fix pH next. Target a range of 7.2 to 7.6. Add pH Plus if low or pH Minus if high.
- Hold chlorine next. Hold the level at 3 to 5 ppm using slow tablets inside a floater or the ChemConnect dispenser. Never soak when levels go above 5 ppm.
Separate chemical types by at least 2 hours. Daily chemical use is not required, per the guide. Check levels a few hours before soaking and add chlorine if it gets low.
Dissolve chemicals ahead of time in a clean plastic container by putting them in water, never adding water to them. Do not combine any two chemicals.
What to buy for a starter kit
Lay-Z-Spa offers a ClearWater starter kit and notes it might be enough for beginners. For a kit you put together yourself, you need:
- Test strips for chlorine and pH, plus alkalinity if possible.
- Use chlorine granules (dichlor) for the shock dose.
- Choose slow chlorine tablets sized for your dispenser. The Intex floater accepts tablets under 1 in (2.5 cm) wide.
- pH Plus and pH Minus products.
- Alkalinity increaser, also known as sodium bicarbonate.
- Extra options: a product to clear cloudy water or one to remove foam. A scale and stain controller helps if your water is hard.
When filling for the first time, follow the steps in hot tub startup chemicals.
Choosing between chlorine and bromine for inflatables
Since Lay-Z-Spa and Intex base their care instructions on it, chlorine is the simpler option. Bullfrog Spas mentions chlorine costs less and dissolves rapidly. You can also buy it nearly anywhere.
Bromine handles hot water well too, and Bullfrog says it keeps working across a wider pH range, from 7.2 up to 8.4. Slow dissolving is the drawback. Leslie's says: build a bromide bank first, 10 to 15 ppm, shock next, then put tablets in a floater.
Use a clean dispenser if you make a switch. Do not add a product to a dispenser with traces of another, Lay-Z-Spa warns. Compare both options in bromine vs chlorine.
Common questions
Can regular chemicals meant for hot tubs go in an inflatable one?
Yes, you can. The same products for chlorine, pH, and alkalinity work; just apply a smaller dose for the smaller volume. Since Lay-Z-Spa bases doses on its ClearWater range, check the label against your gallons.
Is chlorine required for inflatable hot tubs?
A sanitizer is what these tubs need, and Lay-Z-Spa and Intex both name chlorine. Bestway states that water without chemical treatment needs changing every 3 days.
When can I enter a Lay-Z-Spa after shocking it?
Allow at least 24 hours to pass. Testing comes next; wait to soak until chlorine is 3 to 5 ppm and pH plus alkalinity fall in range.
How often should I be adding chlorine to an inflatable hot tub?
Lay-Z-Spa says the frequency is daily or weekly based on usage. Test a few hours before soaking and add more when free chlorine falls below 3 ppm.