Hot Tub Forum

Original => Hot Tub Forum => Topic started by: solo on October 17, 2007, 07:25:31 pm

Title: Any ''must have'' spa accessories?
Post by: solo on October 17, 2007, 07:25:31 pm
The dealer threw in a little soft "spa pillow" that has a sandbag attached to one end and hangs on the spa.  I also saw a little attachment that hooks on to your hose to help clean the filter.  

Any accessories that you find very useful?
Title: Re: Any ''must have'' spa accessories?
Post by: Brookenstein on October 17, 2007, 07:29:01 pm
Only accessory we use is a towel rack.  
Title: Re: Any ''must have'' spa accessories?
Post by: Chad on October 17, 2007, 07:33:17 pm
Just lots and lots of lady friends. 8-)

Title: Re: Any ''must have'' spa accessories?
Post by: Zep on October 17, 2007, 08:51:26 pm
i find an electric portable drain pump very helpful

it greatly speeds up the draining process

something like this:

(http://www.plumbersurplus.com/images/prod/1/09854.JPG)

[size=9]
http://images.google.com/imgres?imgurl=http://www.plumbersurplus.com/images/prod/1/09854.JPG&imgrefurl=http://www.plumbersurplus.com/Prod/Little-Giant-5-MSP-1-6-HP-1200-GPH-Submersible-Utility-Pump-25-power-cord-(505025)/13097/Cat/773&h=350&w=248&sz=14&hl=en&start=1&um=1&tbnid=g5kIYC5_j8ArRM:&tbnh=120&tbnw=85&prev=/images%3Fq%3Dlittle%2Bgiant%2B5%2Bmsp%26svnum%3D10%26um%3D1%26hl%3Den%26rls%3DTSHA,TSHA:2006-07,TSHA:en%26sa%3DN[/size]


Title: Re: Any ''must have'' spa accessories?
Post by: 96SC on October 17, 2007, 10:30:49 pm
I don't know if these are considered accessories but a reliable/accurate test kit and measuring spoons for chemicals.
Title: Re: Any ''must have'' spa accessories?
Post by: Gomboman on October 17, 2007, 11:17:40 pm
Do you have any kids? This is my best friend:

http://www.rhtubs.com/store/padarise-spa-vacuum.htm
Title: Re: Any ''must have'' spa accessories?
Post by: ndabunka on October 17, 2007, 11:49:15 pm
Quote
Do you have any kids? This is my best friend:

http://www.rhtubs.com/store/padarise-spa-vacuum.htm

LOL!  That is EXACTLY what I discussed on this website when I bought my tub nearly 4 years ago now.  At the time I had taken one of those plunger-type painter sticks and used it in reverse.  Looks like someone took the idea the rest of the way.  Maybe they were already being produced way back then but I swear I was not able to find anything online at the time.
Title: Re: Any ''must have'' spa accessories?
Post by: wmccall on October 18, 2007, 09:12:15 am
Quote
Just lots and lots of lady friends. 8-)



I was going to say the same thing in a singular manner.   Not that I wouldn't if I could  :)
Title: Re: Any ''must have'' spa accessories?
Post by: Spatech_tuo on October 18, 2007, 10:22:17 am
Quote

LOL!  That is EXACTLY what I discussed on this website when I bought my tub nearly 4 years ago now.  At the time I had taken one of those plunger-type painter sticks and used it in reverse.  Looks like someone took the idea the rest of the way.  Maybe they were already being produced way back then but I swear I was not able to find anything online at the time.

They've been around for quite a few years. I prefer the Grit Gitter but these work OK too.
Title: Re: Any ''must have'' spa accessories?
Post by: tinybubbles on October 18, 2007, 10:56:02 am
Outdoor wireless speakers and a tv! :)
Title: Re: Any ''must have'' spa accessories?
Post by: pg_rider on October 18, 2007, 11:11:45 am
Beer.



And the submersible pump that Zep posted...  :)
Title: Re: Any ''must have'' spa accessories?
Post by: dax on October 18, 2007, 11:31:43 am
Quote
Beer.

And the submersible pump that Zep posted...  :)

Gotta have the foam insulator for your beer can/bottle too.  Can't scratch the top of the spa.  And I third the sump pump.  Makes draining the tub very easy.

Title: Re: Any ''must have'' spa accessories?
Post by: Renee on October 18, 2007, 01:05:17 pm
Quote

Gotta have the foam insulator for your beer can/bottle too.  Can't scratch the top of the spa.  

Don't have to worry about that when you have a J-365....we have lighted cupholders!   Although I think it's a little odd Jacuzzi only put 3 cupholders, not 4 (one for each side)  But I guess they never asked for my opinion in the planning stages of the '07 models.  ;)

And on a side note, IMO you don't need a fancy vacuum or Grit Gitter....a turkey baster works great!!

And don't forget the pool skimmer for any foam you may encounter....
Title: Re: Any ''must have'' spa accessories?
Post by: rick on October 18, 2007, 01:20:40 pm
my necessary accesory is built in.   notice the triangle shaped ice chest cover that sits over the built in ice chest.

Saaawwweeeett!!

(http://i97.photobucket.com/albums/l217/nobodyssock/spa.jpg)

Title: Re: Any ''must have'' spa accessories?
Post by: Vanguard on October 18, 2007, 09:20:04 pm
You wouldn't need the submersible pump if you had a Hot Spring.  ;D ;D They do an amazingly different thing.  They put their drain on the floor.  All the water drains out by itself, albeit not as quickly as a submersible.  I just usually start the draining process after getting out one night.  By morning, the water is gone and I'm ready to fill.  No extension cords, not hassle.  Oh yeah, my yard drains nicely, so the few extra hundred gallons just spreads and waters my lawn.
Title: Re: Any ''must have'' spa accessories?
Post by: D.P. Roberts on October 18, 2007, 09:28:20 pm
I use a "dirty duck" scum absorber. They're an easy part of your spa care routine - I leave mine in the filter compartment, and some time during my soak I squeeze it out. No fuss, no muss. I'm not even sure what "muss" is, but there certainly isn't any with this product.

I also highly recommend a James Brown "Celebriduck", so you can have your very own James Brown Celebrity Hot Tub Party:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2C2RhoTvzdQ

So a Dirty Duck and a Celebrity Duck. Basically, anything ducky is, well, ducky.
Title: Re: Any ''must have'' spa accessories?
Post by: Gomboman on October 18, 2007, 10:28:17 pm
Quote
You wouldn't need the submersible pump if you had a Hot Spring.  ;D ;D They do an amazingly different thing.  They put their drain on the floor.  All the water drains out by itself, albeit not as quickly as a submersible.  I just usually start the draining process after getting out one night.  By morning, the water is gone and I'm ready to fill.  No extension cords, not hassle.  Oh yeah, my yard drains nicely, so the few extra hundred gallons just spreads and waters my lawn.

Amen brother. I do the same thing with my Envoy. I just drain it at night after the soak and when I wake up in the morning it's all done.....
Title: Re: Any ''must have'' spa accessories?
Post by: Zep on October 18, 2007, 10:59:56 pm
the drain for my CalSpa is on the floor....where else would a drain be?  ;)

but I dont think the caladiums, potato ivy, perriwinkles, begonias,
and soon the fall pansies would approve of that chemical water flowing into their flowerbeds!  >:(

(http://www.gardengremlin.ca/wp-content/uploads/2006/07/brown_yellow_pansy.jpg)


Title: Re: Any ''must have'' spa accessories?
Post by: Gomboman on October 19, 2007, 12:53:24 am
Quote
the drain for my CalSpa is on the floor....where else would a drain be?  ;)

but I dont think the caladiums, potato ivy, perriwinkles, begonias,
and soon the fall pansies would approve of that chemical water flowing into their flowerbeds!  >:(

(http://www.gardengremlin.ca/wp-content/uploads/2006/07/brown_yellow_pansy.jpg)


I direct my hose into a drain in my back lawn. The line runs underneath my property and is cored to my street drainage. Pretty common in my area.  

Title: Re: Any ''must have'' spa accessories?
Post by: bosco0633 on October 19, 2007, 06:23:57 am
Does a scum  bug count as an accessory?  

Things i cant live without is an eazy drain.  This way i dont need a sump pump.  

Second a shelf.  I added a cedar shelf or bar bench.  In the winter i pack snow on it and stuff my beers into the snow pile.  my little guy puts his toys on it and all kinds of other uses.

Flip Flops, are needed for the cold runs to the tub for sure. How about a pair of CROCS.

Last but not least, outdoor speakers or built in speakers.  I think it is great to relax to some music, or television viewable from the tub.

Oh and one last one.  Lighting for the tub.  I never thought that it was important but when I got the lights, it changes the feel to the water in my opinion.  It looks so nice with the jets going late at night, and a nice color light illuminating from the water.  

Man this is getting long, I would also say spa fragrances, however, you need to be careful, could cause foaming if to much is used.

Title: Re: Any ''must have'' spa accessories?
Post by: hottbpete on October 19, 2007, 04:30:39 pm
Great Tubing Music

here is a start

not the real thing but he is very good
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DPQn-DiVXaA

the real thing and this is the ultimate tub tune

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=54FtPpeg_3o

Enjoy
Title: Re: Any ''must have'' spa accessories?
Post by: Vanguard on October 19, 2007, 05:07:20 pm
Quote
the drain for my CalSpa is on the floor....where else would a drain be?  ;)

but I dont think the caladiums, potato ivy, perriwinkles, begonias,
and soon the fall pansies would approve of that chemical water flowing into their flowerbeds!  >:(

(http://www.gardengremlin.ca/wp-content/uploads/2006/07/brown_yellow_pansy.jpg)



Most manufacturers don't have a floor drain.  Their drain is in the footwell on a vertical surface.  Means you have to either use a sump pump or use a bucket.

Since I use the dichlor, ozone and silver method, I have water that has less chlorine than our city water.  The plants do just fine.
Title: Re: Any ''must have'' spa accessories?
Post by: Shaamus on October 22, 2007, 09:16:40 pm
I may be biased as a cover manufacturer, but I'm kinda surprised to not see a cover lifter mentioned.
Title: Re: Any ''must have'' spa accessories?
Post by: Vanguard on October 23, 2007, 01:29:21 am
Quote
I may be biased as a cover manufacturer, but I'm kinda surprised to not see a cover lifter mentioned.


I think with this forum, the lifter is kind of a given.  Most dealers seem to include, at the least, a basic lifter.  Some include higher end lifters in their prices.  
Title: Re: Any ''must have'' spa accessories?
Post by: jfish63 on October 23, 2007, 02:56:03 pm
How about some nice robes. I don't think that was mentioned. I use the hose for my pool cleaner to drain. I place the cleaner head on the bottom and submerge the rest into the tub. i then seal the end with my hand and lower it to the ground and the spa is drained in about 13 minutes.
Title: Re: Any ''must have'' spa accessories?
Post by: sonofsail on October 23, 2007, 08:46:15 pm
A spray bottle for de-foamer solution.  Not sure who first mentioned this on the forum before but it works great.
Title: Re: Any ''must have'' spa accessories?
Post by: Chad on October 23, 2007, 11:17:50 pm
Quote

Most manufacturers don't have a floor drain.  Their drain is in the footwell on a vertical surface.  Means you have to either use a sump pump or use a bucket.

Just to let you and others know, even if my tub had two floor drains I'd still use a utility/sump pump. It's just to conveniant.