Swim Spa FAQs

Bromine is used in FROG Serene^® Systems; bromine works well with FROG Sanitizing Minerals in a hot water environment, such as a hot tub, but is not recommended for swim spas.

• A swim spa that uses FROG @ease does not test the same way as a swim spa that uses dichlor, the most common type of chlorine. Other test strips will show Total Chlorine and Free Chlorine ranges that are different than the way FROG @ease  works, which will cause confusion.
• FROG @ease uses a unique chlorine, SmartChlor, plus FROG Sanitizing Minerals to maintain a consistent low Free Chlorine level and keep your or swim spa water Cleaner, Clearer, Softer and Easier® to care for.
• FROG @ease Test Strips were designed with an Out Indicator, a one-color match that designates when the SmartChlor Cartridge is empty. They also measure Total Alkalinity, pH, and Total Hardness levels for proper water balance.
• When the FROG @ease Test Strip is lighter than the Out Indicator color block on the FROG @ease  Test Strip bottle, it’s time to replace the SmartChlor Cartridge.
• FROG Test Strips do not measure Free Chlorine because FROG @ease maintains the Free Chlorine at a consistent 0.5–1.0 ppm, so there is no need to test for it.
• SmartChlor creates a Chlorine Reserve that converts to Free Chlorine on demand – it’s self-regulating. The Chlorine Reserve will start high and slowly deplete over the life of the SmartChlor Cartridge as it converts to Free Chlorine when needed – no action required
• With chlorine (like dichlor, which is most commonly used in swim spas) you must maintain a Free Chlorine level of 2.0 – 4.0 pm – that’ s much higher than FROG @ease – and you need to shock when the Total Chlorine level is higher than the Free Chlorine.
• With SmartChlor, Total Chlorine will always be higher than Free Chlorine until the Cartridge is empty. Total Chlorine is represented by the Chlorine Reserve that is slowly used up over the life of the SmartChlor Cartridge.

Total Chlorine is the total amount of chlorine in the water. When chlorine binds up with contaminants it forms a compound called “chloramines” that are still part of the total but no longer effective. The chlorine that is still active to remove contaminants is known as Free Chlorine. When the chloramine level is higher than the Free Chlorine level (subtract free number from total), then you need to shock the water except when using FROG @ease  with SmartChlor.

Not all minerals are the same! FROG Sanitizing Minerals contain silver, which destroys bacteria. They also contain limestone, which absorbs acids from chemicals like chlorine to help maintain a neutral pH. FROG Sanitizing Minerals work with SmartChlor to create Fresh Mineral Water® – something only FROG delivers – and reduce chlorine use. They are also registered with the EPA, so the claims made are true.

Minerals, silver in particular, have been used for centuries. The Romans put silver coins in urns to help maintain water clarity longer. Hippocrates promoted silver’s anti-disease properties. Today, silver is used in a host of everyday products, including in the medical industry, with tremendous results. Studies have proven that silver ions, as found in the patented FROG Mineral Formula, along with 0.5 ppm of chlorine, is as effective as 1.0 ppm of chlorine alone; with FROG @ease SmartChlor Technology, this means chlorine use is reduced up to 75%*.

*Compared to the minimum ANSI recommended chlorine level of 2.0 ppm for a swim spa.

No, they will not expire if kept dry. However, once FROG Sanitizing Minerals are wetted, they are activated. They will last for 4 months in your swim spa, then they must be replaced. If you put them in the swim spa, and drain your swim spa, you must always add a fresh FROG Mineral Cartridge – even if the one you currently used is less than 4 months old.

All minerals are not the same. Not all minerals kill bacteria. But FROG Sanitizing Minerals kill bacteria and absorb acids from chemicals like chlorine to help maintain a neutral pH. They work in conjunction with SmartChlor to kill bacteria 2 ways and reduce chlorine up to 75%*.  FROG uses patented mineral technology, plus a low level of chlorine that is registered with the Environmental Protection Agency; registration required many rigorous tests over several years to confirm that all claims are true.

FROG Sanitizing Minerals are registered with EPA as a disinfectant, which means they kill bacteria. However, FROG Sanitizing Minerals need a low level of chlorine or bromine as part of the synergistic sanitizing system. If using bromine or dichlor with FROG Sanitizing Minerals, we recommend 1.0 -2.0 ppm, which is 75% less compared to the minimum ANSI recommendation of 2.0 ppm for a swim spa.  With SmartChlor self-regulating the Free Chlorine at 0.5-1.0, we achieve a 75% reduction from the minimum 2.0  ppm but only when used with Sanitizing Minerals.

We proudly stand behind FROG products and quality controls. If you are not satisfied with the performance of FROG @ease products that you purchased from one of our authorized sellers in the United States, you may request a replacement product or a refund within 60 days of the date of purchase.  Click here to register your product online.

For more information, please see the FROG Satisfaction Guarantee.

pH is the abbreviation for “potential hydrogen” and the reading indicates the concentration of hydrogen ions in the water. It is the measure of how acidic or basic (alkaline) the water is.

Total Alkalinity is a measure of total alkaline substances dissolved in the water and of the water’s ability to resist pH change (stability). Total Alkalinity measures the water’s buffering capacity to resist pH changes. Without control of the Total Alkalinity, the pH will rise and fall abruptly.

Total Hardness – also known as Calcium Hardness or Water Hardness – refers to the amount of calcium and other minerals that make the water hard. Swim spas require a Total Hardness level between 150 – 250 ppm. Less than 150 and the water will be corrosive, more than 250 and the water will be scale forming.

FROG Test Strips show the ideal range for free chlorine or bromine when using minerals; use these if you use FROG Serene or FROG Filter Mate®.

If you use FROG @ease , the Free Chlorine level doesn’t change so there’s no need to test for it. FROG @ease  Test Strips monitor the Chlorine Reserve, with an easy-to-read Out Indicator on the top tab of the FROG @ease  Test Strip, which tells you when to replace the SmartChlor Cartridge. No other test strips show this – that’s why we recommend you use only FROG @ease  Test strips if you use FROG @ease  in your swim spa. Only FROG @ease  Test Strips’ single-color match Out Indicator shows when to replace the SmartChlor Cartridge. Other test strips will show the Total Chlorine and Free Chlorine ranges that are different than the way FROG @ease  works, which causes confusion.

Whenever your water looks hazy or cloudy, it is full of various particles that clarifiers bind together so they are large enough to be removed by your filter. Shocking the swim spa can also take care of this process.

Strong, smelly chlorine odor means the swim spa water contains chloramines – organic byproducts of chlorine oxidizing sweat, urine, oils and other contaminants.

Chloramine odor occurs when chlorine combines with perspiration, oils, or urine that enter the with the bathers. Chloramines must be “broken up” by shocking the swim spa water with a chlorine shock or a non-chlorine shock like FROG Maintain®.

FROG @ease  is self-regulating, one of its benefits is that odors are dramatically reduced because there is no buildup of chloramines. That’s why you only need to shock once a month.

For swim spas, follow the manufacturer’s directions for operation as this can vary by manufacturer.

We have videos that show and tell you how!

For swim spas using FROG @ease  Sanitizing System for Swim Spas, see this video

Also download the FREE FROG Water Care App to watch start-up videos any time, get help with troubleshooting, set reminders and more!

The industry standard is every 3 months , however, there isn’t a set time limit. If you maintain the water well – keep the water balanced and ensure that the SmartChlor Cartridge is adequately full and the Mineral Cartridge is not 4 months old or older, and the water doesn’t become cloudy and difficult to manage, you can keep the water longer.

The key when using FROG products (this can be any FROG product – not just FROG @ease )  is to replace your Mineral Cartridge every 4 months. Some people may choose to drain and refill at that time for convenience.  However, if you start with a new Mineral Cartridge and drain 2 months later, you will need to replace the Mineral Cartridge again because when draining the water, most of the sanitizing minerals have also drained out.

Use FROG @ease Test Strips if using FROG @ease  products.

It’s always wise to bring a water sample to your dealer when starting with fresh water, (especially to check for Total Hardness and metals) or if you want to ensure water balance.

For Swim Spas:

Local Water contains different levels of natural minerals like iron, copper or magnesium. These minerals must be removed from the water with a Metal Out or Sequestering Agent – see your dealer to test for this and get help to ensure easier balancing and proper sanitization.