Phosphates are naturally occurring compounds that can enter your spa water through rain, runoff, bathers, or even certain spa chemicals. While they aren’t harmful to people, they act as a food source for algae, which can lead to:
Gecko waterlab monitors your spa’s ORP and sanitizer levels over 1,000 times per week. If it detects declining ORP or higher-than-normal sanitizer usage, it may indicate early algae growth fueled by phosphates and will notify you through the app.
The ideal salt level for most saltwater spa systems is between 2700–4500 ppm. If salt levels are too low:
While Gecko waterlab doesn’t directly measure salt levels, it detects their impact through changes in ORP and sanitizer levels. If Gecko waterlab senses that your ORP is consistently low despite balanced pH and alkalinity, it may suggest checking your salt levels or the salt cell for buildup.
A general rule is to drain and refill your spa every 3–4 months, depending on usage and chemical load. However, Gecko waterlab helps extend this interval by monitoring water chemistry in real-time. If the WaterLab detects signs that sanitizers are becoming less effective or that pH is fluctuating abnormally, it will notify you, suggesting when it’s time to perform a full or partial water change.
Total Dissolved Solids (TDS) measures all the dissolved particles in your spa water, including minerals, salts, metals, and chemical byproducts from sanitizers like chlorine or bromine. Over time, as these substances accumulate, they can:
Gecko waterlab continuously monitors your spa’s sanitizer levels and ORP readings. When TDS levels get too high, Gecko waterlab may detect lower sanitizer efficiency or unstable ORP levels and alert you through the app, indicating it may be time to drain and refill your spa.
Without automation, it’s recommended to test Total Chlorine at least once a week, especially after heavy spa use. However, Gecko waterlab removes the guesswork by monitoring your spa’s ORP over 1,000 times per week. It sends alerts through the app when sanitizer levels need adjustment, ensuring your water stays clean and balanced without manual testing.
A strong “chlorine” smell usually means there’s a buildup of chloramines (Combined Chlorine), not too much Free Chlorine. Even if your Total Chlorine is within the recommended range (1–3 ppm), chloramines can cause:
Gecko waterlab helps detect this issue by monitoring ORP levels. If it notices a drop in ORP despite proper chlorine levels, it will suggest shocking the spa (using a non-chlorine oxidizer) to break down the chloramines and restore water clarity
Free Chlorine (FC) is the active form of chlorine in your spa water that works to kill bacteria, viruses, and other contaminants. It’s the portion of chlorine that’s ready to sanitize and hasn’t yet combined with other substances in the water. Maintaining the right level of Free Chlorine (between 1–3 ppm) keeps your spa water safe, clear, and free from harmful germs.
Bromine forms byproducts called bromamines when it binds to contaminants. Unlike chlorine’s chloramines (which cause strong odors), bromamines are less irritating and still sanitize the water. However, if the smell is strong, it might be time to shock the spa with an oxidizer (like potassium monopersulfate) to break down the bromamines and refresh the water.
Bromine is a great option for spas, especially if you want a gentler sanitizer that works well in hot water. It’s less irritating to the skin and eyes and is particularly good for indoor or covered spas. However, it’s more expensive than chlorine and can be harder to remove from the water if levels get too high.
Since most spas are covered or indoors, you don’t need to protect chlorine from sunlight. Instead, focus on:
It’s generally not recommended. Both dichlor and trichlor contain CYA, which will build up over time in your spa water, reducing chlorine effectiveness. If you must use dichlor, use it sparingly and monitor CYA levels regularly to avoid buildup.
Generally, no. CYA is mainly used in outdoor pools to protect chlorine from UV rays. Since spas are usually covered or indoors, CYA isn’t necessary and can actually make your chlorine less effective. In fact, using CYA in a spa can lead to chlorine lock, where your sanitizer stops working properly, even if your chlorine levels seem fine.
Cloudy water or skin irritation in your spa often points to imbalanced pH levels. The pH measures how acidic or basic your spa water is on a scale from 0 to 14, with 7 being neutral. For spas, the ideal pH range is between 7.2 and 7.8. If the pH drifts outside of this range, it can cause a host of problems, even if you’re adding the correct sanitizers and chemicals.
The white, chalky buildup you’re seeing is called scaling, which is typically caused by high calcium hardness levels in your spa water. When the Total Hardness (TH) exceeds the ideal range (200–400 ppm) and combines with high pH or elevated water temperatures, the excess minerals (mainly calcium) start to precipitate out of the water and form deposits on spa surfaces, jets, and heating elements.
You can download the app from the App Store (for iOS devices) or Google Play (for Android devices).
Press and hold the Light key until the display shows dxx, xx, which represents the duration in hours. Use the Up and Down keys to change the setting. Press the Light key again. The display will show Fx, x, representing the number of filter cycles per day. Use the Up or Down keys to change the setting.
There is currently only one keypad overlay for the in.k600-5OP, and on some hot tub pack software versions, pumps 4 and 5 will be moved to the upper right and bottom right buttons on the topside instead of the left and right arrows in the center of the keypad.
If the left and right buttons in the center of the keypad are not operating pumps 4 and 5, try pressing the key on the upper right and the key on the bottom right of the keypad.
The ID number of an in.yt pack will always start with 0610- and can be found on the label on the front of the hot tub pack enclosure.
For a 120v-to-240v conversion, please refer to the wiring diagram on the inside of the cover of the hot tub pack for electrical input requirements and heater connection. Also make sure to adjust the breaker/current setting to 80% of the GFCI installed.
Note that this process does not apply to in.k500, in.k800 and in.k1000 keypads.
Watch this video : https://youtu.be/vmdEmT80vRg
Depending on the configuration of the hot tub controller, a code may be required to change the electrical settings. The code is 5555.
The smart winter mode is an automatic mode that will start/stop automatically on its own if needed. The trigger is a temperature of 68F where the control box sits in the spa (not the temperature of the water). This mode is always enabled, and it cannot be disabled manually. It will turn off automatically 24 hours after it started if the temperature is warmed up and raised above the trigger.
When the snowflake icon appears, it means the smart winter mode is activated.
You cannot change or customize the economy mode settings. When enabled, economy mode will lower the current set point by a fixed value of 20 degrees Fahrenheit (or 11 degrees Celsius). Note that the minimum set point will remain at 59F (or 15C) even if economy mode is enabled.
The in.k200 keypads do not support the economy mode.
The MS-1 pumps use Gecko’s low friction Universeal seal.
You can find that by measuring the outside diameter of the inlet and outlet of a pump. Please make sure to measure both inlet and outlet. It is possible for them to be two different sizes.
Watch this video to learn how to remove the impeller from my pump. https://youtu.be/P1CYn-1ZJeE
Watch this video to learn how to remove the impeller from my pump. https://youtu.be/wp_Poe-qYys
Always refer to the manufacturer’s wiring diagram found on the motor.
Bromicharge (sodium bromide used with the in.clear system) was sold in Canada until the end of November 2020.
It is now no longer available in Canada due to the new Health Canada regulations prohibiting the use of bromine generators in hot tubs and swimming pools.
As Gecko must comply with these new regulations, products associated with in.clear are no longer available for sale in Canada.
At this time, Gecko does not manufacture any other water sanitation system. We recommend that you contact your hot tub dealer for other ways to sanitize your water.
The PIN/Pairing code number to pair your device to the in.stream 2 is 5555.
If you need to replace a transmitter or pair your transmitters again, power up the home transmitter and press on its pairing button with a paper clip. The status light of the transmitter will blink yellow. Then, shut off the hot tub’s breaker to turn off the transmitter. Wait a few moments and turn the breaker back on. Pairing will then be completed and both transmitter status lights will turn to blue.
If you signed out of the app and don’t remember the password that was initially used to create your account, you will need need to use the “Forgot password?” option.
The in.touch 2 app will notify you if:
The in.touch 2 is compatible with any hot tub equipped with Gecko’s Y and X series control systems manufactured in or after 2013.
If your problem is not resolved, you can send an assistance request to our technical support team.
Call us:
+1 800-784-3256
European tech support toll free hotline: +33 80 50 80 352
UK toll free phone number: +44 800 060 8300
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