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MATCH THE COLOURS - MASTER THE BALANCE
Hot tub water care shouldn't be confusing — so we reinvented it.
Spa Fuel’s Essential Range is a colour-coded water care system that works in perfect sync with Insta-4 test strips.
Each of the four core Spa Fuel products has its own matching Pantone colour. Just dip your strip, match the colours, and fuel your spa with exactly what it needs — nothing more, nothing less.
HOW IT WORKS
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Test your water with an Insta-4 strip.
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Compare each test square to the Spa Fuel product packaging.
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If a colour doesn’t match, use the Intsta 4 guide to start and then add the corresponding chemical to adjust the level.
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Repeat testing after recommended timeframes until all four colours align with the packaging & test strip guide.
Each test pad directly links to a Spa Fuel product when in line and correct. The goal? Get all four colours matching the labels — your spa water is then in perfect balance.
CHLORINE
Purpose: Sanitises the water, killing bacteria and keeping it safe.
When to use: If the purple chlorine pad on your test strip is too light or absent.
How to use:
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Dose with jets on.
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Wait 15–30 minutes, then retest.
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Maintain levels between 3–5 ppm.
Always keep sanitiser in range — it's the frontline of water hygiene.
ALKALINITY
Purpose: Buffers pH, preventing swings and helping stabilise the overall water chemistry.
When to use: If the green test pad shows a reading under 80 ppm.
How to use:
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Dose gradually.
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Wait up to 6 hours before retesting.
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Target range: 80–120 ppm
Get this right before adjusting pH — alkalinity acts as a stabiliser.
PH PLUS
Purpose: Raises the pH level if it's too acidic (low).
When to use: If the coral red pad on your test strip is too pale.
How to use:
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Add with circulation running.
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Wait 30–60 minutes, then retest.
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Ideal pH range: 7.2–7.6
Low pH can cause corrosion and irritate skin and eyes.
HARDNESS INCREASER
Purpose: Raises calcium levels to prevent foaming, corrosion, and etching.
When to use: If the blue test pad indicates calcium below 150 ppm.
How to use:
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Add gradually with the jets on.
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Wait 2–4 hours before retesting.
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Target range: 150–250 ppm
Soft water might feel nice, but it eats away at spa surfaces and components over time.
SHOP OUR ESSENTIALS RANGE
Timing & Retesting: How Long to Wait Between Doses
Chlorine Granules: Retest in 15–30 mins
pH Increaser: Retest in 30–60 mins
Alkalinity Increaser: Retest after 4–6 hours
Hardness Increaser: Retest in 2–4 hours
Always adjust one chemical at a time, starting with alkalinity, then pH, then hardness, then chlorine.
Why Only Insta-4 Test Strips Work
Spa Fuel is precision colour-matched to LaMotte Insta-4 test strips.
Only these strips use the exact Pantone references featured on our packaging.
Using other test strips may give chemical readings, but the colours won’t necessarily match, making our simple visual system ineffective.
Recommended Products
Spa Fuel’s colour-matching system is only compatible with Insta-4 test strips.
Other test strip brands may give valid readings but will not match Spa Fuel product colours.
Every spa behaves differently based on size, usage, filtration, and water source.
Always follow specific dosage guidelines printed on each Spa Fuel product label.
This page is for general guidance. Always consult your spa manufacturer’s manual for model-specific instructions.