First Steps to Balancing Your Lay‑Z‑Spa Water: A Simple Guide for Crystal Clear Soaks

Spa Fuel
May 15
3 min read

If you've just set up your Lay‑Z‑Spa, congratulations! You're one step closer to enjoying relaxing, warm soaks in your own backyard. But before you dive in, there’s one essential thing to master: balancing your spa water.

Getting the water chemistry right from the start helps you:

Keep the water clean and safe
Prevent damage to your spa
Reduce chemical use and water waste
Enjoy a stress-free spa experience

At Spa Fuel, we’re here to make water care simple—even if you’ve never done it before. Here's your no-nonsense guide to getting started.

1. Fill Your Spa with Fresh Water

Start with a clean slate. Use cold tap water to fill your Lay‑Z‑Spa to the recommended waterline. Don’t add any chemicals just yet—give the spa time to heat up fully first.

👉 Spa Fuel Tip: Always balance your water when it’s warm—ideally between 30–40°C—as temperature can affect test results.

2. Run the Pump and Circulate the Water

Turn on your pump and let it circulate the water for at least 15–30 minutes. This helps distribute natural minerals in the water evenly and prepares it for testing.

3. Use Test Strips to Check Your Levels

This is where the magic begins. Use your LaMotte test strips (or the ones supplied with your Lay‑Z‑Spa) to check:

Chlorine (or Bromine if you’re using that)
pH
Total Alkalinity (TA)
Calcium Hardness

👉 Spa Fuel makes this easy: Our chemical range is colour-matched to your test strips, so you know exactly which product to use based on the test result.

4. Adjust the Essentials in the Right Order

Balancing your spa means getting four key levels in the right zone. Do it in this order for best results:

Sanitiser – Chlorine (Pink):Kills bacteria and keeps the water safe. If low, add Spa Fuel Chlorine Granules using our easy dosing guide.
pH (Peach):Measures how acidic or alkaline the water is. Aim for a pH between 7.2–7.6. Use Spa Fuel pH Plus if it's too low.
Alkalinity (Turquoise):Acts as a pH buffer. Ideal range: 80–120 ppm. Use Spa Fuel Alkalinity Increaser to bring it up if needed.
Calcium Hardness (Blue):Protects your spa equipment and helps sanitiser work better. Use Spa Fuel Hardness Increaser if it’s too soft.

5. Let the Water Circulate and Retest

After each adjustment, give your Lay‑Z‑Spa 20–30 minutes to circulate before retesting. Small changes are better than big corrections—be patient, and you’ll get there.

6. Keep It Balanced Weekly

Once the water is balanced, test it 2–3 times per week, especially after heavy use or topping up with fresh water. Top up chemicals as needed, and enjoy peace of mind.

Final Thought: Simplify with Spa Fuel

We know water care can seem overwhelming—but that’s why we created Spa Fuel. Our range is designed to take the confusion out of spa maintenance, using simple instructions, smart packaging, and color-coded guidance that works with your test strips.

With Spa Fuel, you're not just balancing water—you’re protecting your spa, your skin, and the environment.

Need help choosing your first products? Check out our SPA FUEL ESSENTIALS or grab individual chemicals from our online shop.

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