Magnesium is hailed as a mineral that provides many health benefits to the body such as healthy bones and boosting energy levels. Many people choose to add magnesium sulphate, also known as Epsom salts to bath water because of its healing properties.
So, can you add magnesium to a spa pool or swim spa? In this article you will learn why not to add magnesium or Epsom salts to your spa water and what magnesium-containing products are safe to use in spa pools.
Disclaimer - In this article we’ve used brand names not affiliated with Spa World™ or Vortex Leisure Pty Ltd, the parent company of Spa World™. All information including pricing and product details, was accurate at the time of writing and may change without notice.
Magnesium is a mineral and the human body relies on it in many ways to function. This includes supporting oxygenation in the body, and may help relieve the nervous system and ease muscle tension.
According to Dr Kyle Neely, a physical therapist and certified strength and conditioning coach, a large percentage of humans are magnesium deficient. Decreased oxygenation in the body can lead to negative feelings such as tiredness and lower energy.
However, there are ways to increase levels of magnesium in the body such as including foods in your daily diet that contain higher levels of magnesium. You can also take supplements that contain magnesium.
In short, no. You should not add magnesium in the form of magnesium sulphate or Epsom salts to your spa pool or swim spa. If salt levels in the water exceed the recommended amount, important parts in a spa may start to corrode.
Spa components such as the heater element or parts of the pump cannot tolerate high levels of salt in the water. In fact, salt levels above 1500 ppm (parts per million) can cause permanent damage to a spa, depending on the pH of the water.
The good news is that Spa World now offers Spa World Liquid Magnesium, our own-brand formula engineered specifically for spa pools. It has an ultra-low salt content that keeps salt levels well below the corrosion threshold. Users consistently notice softer, silkier water from the first use, and soaking in magnesium-enriched water may support skin comfort, relaxation, and recovery as part of your regular routine. If you're looking for a spa-safe magnesium product, this is the one we recommend.
MagnaSpa is also available through our Parts & Accessories store as an alternative spa-safe magnesium mineral product. Both are used in addition to, not instead of, your regular sanitiser.
According to Zodiac, potassium chloride in water works as a strong relaxant and moisturiser for the skin.
No, Epsom salts should never be added to water in a spa pool or swim spa. Epsom salts contain magnesium sulphate which is an alkaline chemical compound. Overall, Epsom salts contain a high level of salt.
To achieve the health benefits from Epsom salts, the recommended level is 20,000 ppm which well exceeds the maximum level of 1500 ppm that spas can withstand.
To learn more about using Epsom salts, read this article - Are Epsom salts ok to use in spas? A warning for spa owners.
Yes, you will still need to add sanitiser to your spa or swim spa. MagnaSpa is compatible and can be used with all sanitising agents. If you’re wondering why you need to use sanitiser with MagnaSpa but not with MagnaPool, that’s because MagnaPool uses its hydroxinator to create the sanitiser required in a pool.
Yes, you can turn a swim spa into a maganesum salt water spa. However, you can not use the Aquasal™ Salt System
The AquaSal™ Salt System (AQ) is an automatic sanitising system that converts salt to natural chlorine. While you can use magnesium to create chlorine, it will likely impact the salt reading in the Aquasal™ system by showing false readings. In turn, the system may read 'low salt' so it doesn't produce any salt. For this reason, you should not use Aquasal™ with magnesium salt.
Yes, you can add MagnaSpa to a spa that uses chlorine-free hydrogen peroxide sanitiser.
Hydrogen peroxide is one of the most effective chlorine-free spa sanitisers however because it is an oxidiser, it is considered a ‘dangerous good’. Couriers need to handle this chemical compound separately from other goods so it could increase delivery cost and time.
Read this article to learn more about chlorine-free options for your spa pool.
Yes, adding magnesium in the form of magnesium sulphate or Epsom salts to spa water can affect spa components if salt levels exceed 1500 ppm. Using a mineral product blend like MagnaSpa that contains magnesium chloride is a safe option because it is specifically designed for spa pools because of its low salt content. A magnesium containing product with a low salt content won’t harm your spa and offers the benefits of softer spa water.
When other minerals are added to magnesium, several changes can occur. According to Zodiac, hardness levels and salinity levels can increase. The minerals used in MagnaSpa are of food-grade and therefore do not add contaminants to spa water that can lead to staining.
MagnaSpa is pH neutral so it will not affect the water balance in a spa.
It is recommended that one bag of MagnaSpa per 1000l of spa water is added each time the spa is refilled.
According to Zodiac, yes, spa pools that use bromine-based chlorine are compatible with MagnaSpa. There isn't any chemical reaction that forms unwanted by-products.
When it comes to adding magnesium to your spa, using magnesium sulphate in your spa can cause more harm than good.
This article should give you peace of mind that if you use the right magnesium-containing product that is specifically designed for spa pool use, you will be able to soak up the benefits of this mineral, while keeping your spa components safe.
Wondering what the best spa sanitising products are on the market? Learn more in this review article below.
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