Frequently Asked Questions

We typically ship same day for orders received before 10am Mountain Time. After that, orders are typically shipped the next business day.

Due to variable shipping and duty charges, international customers can order from our dealers. See International Dealers for Australia and New Zealand, the UK and Europe, and the Netherlands, Belgium and Luxembourg.

We do not spam people with annoying multiple emails. Typically 2-4 emails a month.

Most traditional tubs can be converted to saltwater, though some may need new equipment, such as a salt system, depending on the tub. Standard components do best with balanced water, and many salt ready tubs use titanium components. Hardness is commonly kept in the 250 to 350 ppm range. See Saltwater Hot Tub Conversion.

The Hot Tub Wizard's maintenance program is based around regular, inexpensive, bleach and white vinegar.

It is recommended to maintain water hardness in the 250-350ppm range if your tub is not offered new with a salt option.

There are several options. Non-iodized table salt, Kosher salt, rock salt, solar salt, pool salt and hot tub salt. Pink salt or Dead Sea salt can also be used but contain other elements that can reduce the production of chlorine. Also, the beneficial minerals get oxidized by chlorine and end up trapped in the filters.

Granular chlorine contains cyanuric acid (conditioner) which as it builds up in the water, reduces the ability of chlorine to oxidize and sanitize the water. Vinegar is an easy, safe way to lower the pH.

The number one cause of the system not working is improper salt levels. Depending on the system you have, the required salt level will typically be between 1,500-3,000 ppm of salt. Refer to the appropriate owner's manual for correct salt level.

If your system maintains chlorine levels above 5 ppm lower your output level. If your chlorine is under 2 ppm raise the output level. Change in output level should be done 1 unit at a time until you reach a level between 2 and 5.

The white substance is scale buildup on the plates which is a normal part of the electrolysis process. Systems that are self cleaning reverse polarity, which helps reduce scale accumulation but cannot totally eliminate the need for cleaning in a mild acid solution such as white vinegar. Excessive scale accumulation will reduce the life of the cell and diminish chlorine production.

The number one cause of the ACE® system not working is because of salt levels. The ACE® system is designed to operate in the 1,500-2,000 ppm salt range. If you have an LCD panel you can access the status indicator screen in the water care menu. The YELLOW-GREEN-RED scale will usually tell you what you need to know. Text us with a picture of the status indicator screen along with the salt level determined by a salt test strip with a current date stamp and we can help troubleshoot your system.

Salt levels of 1,500 ppm will usually suffice for a new salt cell and then work your way up over time to 2,000 as the special coating on the plates is depleted. DO NOT go over 2,000 ppm as it is possible for corrosion damage to start.

If the Q&A here does not answer your questions, please refer to our dedicated ACE® support site: www.acesaltcellreplacement.com.

Salt chlorine generators have a salt range they are made to work in. Let's use 1500-2000 ppm of salt. Let's also assume the water is at 2000 but the system is not working. In this example the system is new or a new salt cell was installed. A new salt cell is much more sensitive than an old worn out one and would ideally work at the 1500 ppm level.

Salt cells sense the conductivity between the plates. The conductivity is affected by age of cell, salt level and water temperature. The required minimum for proper reading of salt levels is 95 degrees F or 35 degrees C.

Many salt systems are limited by the salt cell. Cheap systems have smaller plate size and coating quality to save on cost. Many low quality model cells are a 2 plate design and/or smaller plates to lower cost. 3 plate designs will double chlorine production when comparing plates of same size.

This is a common problem which is easy to fix. The special coating on the chlorine generator cell plates is much more sensitive to salt levels when new. As the cell ages, it is normal for users to add more salt to keep their system working. If the tub hasn't had new water when cell was changed, there are more total dissolved solids which makes the water more conductive. This means the salt level can be within range but still be a little high for the new salt cell. Simply drain some water and top off with fresh water to get salt level to the lower end of the manufacturer's recommended salt range.

Just like tubs using chlorine or bromine, proper water balance helps prevent problems. Currently, there are chlorine generation systems that have different salt requirements. This ranges from 1,200-3,000 ppm of salt. Systems that require salt under 2,000 ppm are much more desirable and friendly on hot tub equipment, especially heaters. The lower cost systems utilize cells that have a lower output, especially at lower salt levels.

If you have a system requiring 2-3,000 ppm salt, it will benefit from maintaining hardness levels of 350-450. Lower salt levels are recommended to operate at hardness levels between 250-350. Depending on the condition of your heater when converting, it is recommended to replace with a titanium heating element. They are just a few dollars more than a standard element and are much more forgiving.

If you are looking to purchase a salt system make sure you research and get a saltwater chlorine generator that operates with under 2,000 ppm of salt. These systems typically have larger salt cells and are designed to operate at lower levels that are much gentler on metal surfaces.

As of 2025, the tub manufacturers offering salt and build tubs that are more resistant to saltwater are Hot Spring, Caldera, Master Spas and Arctic.

There are an increasing number of low cost, Chinese saltwater conversion systems that are designed to work ideally in the 3,000 ppm salt level. The Hot Tub Wizard system is designed to operate at 1,500 ppm salt.

The Hot Tub Wizard® is tested before shipping. It is also one of the few systems that offer a method of quickly disconnecting the salt cell so it can easily be cleaned of scale and replaced when it has reached the end of its life. That means you don't need to take the box apart to change the cell which could lead to water damage.

Make sure the salt cell connector is firmly connected. When connecting the salt cell make sure you press the fitting on the cell into the end coming from the control box until you feel a click and that should enable the cell to start working.

This can be caused by high chlorine bleaching the test strip or phosphates in the water.

Saltwater chlorine generators are good at maintaining chlorine levels under normal conditions. They are not good at going from 0 to 3 ppm or overcoming a high bather load. Some systems have a boost function which will help but when starting with fresh water or high use has put you at 0 chlorine it is helpful to add a cup of regular bleach.

You may need to increase your output level. If you are using sodium dichlor (chlorine granules) you may have a high level of cyanuric acid over 30 ppm which will make it more difficult to sanitize your water. I have a video which explains. This video can be found in our Q&A.

This is a common complaint you will find and there are reasons for this. After being one of the first to use saltwater in hot tubs since 2008 and development since 2003, a lot has been learned.

There are a number of low cost systems being offered on Amazon and other places which are good at offering cheap items that at times will barely last beyond the return window. Chinese knock offs do not have any support or knowledge of how to successfully use salt in a hot tub.

Saltwater treatment of hot tubs is the best method The Hot Tub Wizard has seen in almost 25 years. With a quality system and proper use it will give you an amazing experience. There are times when I have neglected my tub and it keeps looking great. We give support which allows you to spend more time enjoying your tub and less time messing with it.