What is the difference between SaniStream and SaniStream+?

Darlly Sanistream was the first and original hot tub sanitiser inline-dosing system available to hot tub owners and users.

How is SaniStream+ different?

SaniStream+ builds on the success of the original Sanistream system, now offering a positive easy-to-use screw-thread to fasten the pod securely to the yellow-flower filter handle. 

The photo below shows the original SaniStream system on the left and the SaniStream+ system replacing it on the right . The ‘yellow flower’ handle screws directly into the top of the closed SaniStream+ ­filter.

Can I use SaniStream+ pods with all SaniStream+ filters, even open-ended filters?

Yes! All SaniStream+ pods include a screw-cap to enable this. The cap closes the pod when used with a SaniStream+ open-ended filter filter. Simply add your chosen sanitiser tablets to the pod, screw on the cap, twist the pod to adjust to the appropriate dosing, and place on the built-in support in the centre of the filter. It is as simple as that!

Is a SaniStream+ filter a similar height to a SaniStream filter?

Yes. They will both fit in the same space

How do I adjust the dosing with SaniStream+?

The sanitiser dosing level can be adjusted simply by twisting the pod to select the desired level. 

Can SaniStream+ help with compliance of HSG282

In a word, Yes.

HSG282 guidelines are relevant for the use of a domestic-type hot tub in a commercial environment, such as holiday parks or holiday rental properties.

For more information about this, read our FilterCare topic Holiday Park Let Hot Tubs – What is HSG282?

Will the SC815 pods work with the new Sanistream + Filters?

No, only the SC815+ pods will work with the new Sanistream + Filters.

What if I have stock of old SC815 Sanistream Pods?

We will exchange any old DL815 pods to the new DL815+ pods free of charge, as long as the pods are unused and in suitable condition.

Where can I find more information about SaniStream+ Pods?

https://darlly.eu/dl815plus

We have additional interesting information, and many other relevant topics to help you with hot tub and filter care which you may find interesting, on our Darlly Filter Care Topics page. Take a quick look, there may just be something that can help improve your hot tub experience.

We regularly add new topics to our Filter Care pages. Remember to drop by to read more articles about how to care for your hot tub filters.

If you have any questions or suggestions for topics that you would like us to cover on our Filter Care Topics page, please do not hesitate to get in touch.

We will do what we can to help.

Happy Hot Tubbing!

The Darlly Team

Hut tub error code showing? Flow error? Poor flow rate? Hot tub jets not powerful? What can we do about this?

The only easy thing you can do realistically is to check the filters.

In today’s busy world, it is easy to forget routine hot tub filter maintenance.

Any, or all, of the symptoms above can point in the direction of the filters or the pumps requiring attention. The pumps are a little beyond the scope of regular home maintenance, so we’ll concentrate on checking the filters.

Don’t forget, safety first! Remember to turn off the pumps and jets before you start.

If your hot tub has a skimmer basket above the filter housing, this is the first place to check for debris and blockage. Removing the basket if fitted, should reveal the filter(s) in the housing. 

Remove the filters and check for dirt and contamination. Sometimes the filters can appear on the outside but have quite a considerable build up of dirt hidden within the pleats. Gently part the pleats to inspect deep within.

Any dirt present should be removed with a deep clean cycle. Have a quick read of our Filter Care topics for help how to clean your filters.

Hot tub have a Clogged Filter Flow Error Message?

A possible cause of a Clogged Filter Flow Error Message is a filter desperately in need of a clean.

When was the last time the filters were checked or cleaned properly? Really properly, not just a quick swill with a hose pipe as this won’t help address the real problem here. 

Filter checks should not only be based on time periods, such as weekly or monthly. Consider how often and by how many the hot tub is used. Greater usage increases the possible dirt and contamination that may have entered the water, the filters may need cleaning more often if the usage is higher than usual.

If your Hot Tub Filters block quickly, check out our My Hot Tub Filter Blocks Quickly, Is It Faulty? Filter Care topic.

What does a filter remove from the water? 

Knowing common contaminants and how they can enter the water can help us to understand the reasoning behind the need for high quality filtration and water care.

Quality Darlly filters are designed to trap most contamination that enter the hot tub water, ranging from tanning products to leaves and dead insects. Other contaminants can include make-up, hair, dirt carried in on the bottom of bather’s feet etc.

Why does a hot tub need filters?

How do Hot Tub filters work? 

The way filters work is quite simple. Dirty contaminated water is pumped through the filter which collects dirt, body oils and debris from the flow, the dirt is trapped within the filter and the filtered water is returned to the hot tub.

Can I use the hot tub without filters installed?

All in all the answer is a definite no. Without efficient filtration, the water would soon become contaminated with dirt, from the environment (dust, leaves, insects etc), and from the hot tub users (Sunscreen, tanning products, make-up, deodorant, body oils, dirt, hair etc).

Without efficient filtration, the contaminants could soon build up to a critical level. If left unaddressed, this can cause the bathing water to become cloudy, and algae growth a possibility. 

This can upset the balance of the water and chemical usage increases in trying to deal with the problem. This in turn hastens water saturation where the chemicals cease to be effective. For that reason, the water can then become damaging to the hot tub mechanicals and/or affect the surface feel of the hot tub moulding.

Read our How Do I Check And Maintain The Water Quality In My Hot Tub? Filter Care Topic.

Inline Sanitisation

What is Inline Sanitisation and how can it help with maintaining water quality? Darlly SaniStream Filters and SpaPods dispense your choice of bromine or chlorine directly into the water. Read our ‘Inline Sanitisation, Darlly Sanistream And SpaPod. What Does It All Mean?’ Filter Care topic for more information

Further interesting topics and reading

We have additional interesting information, and many other relevant topics to help you with hot tub and filter care which you may find interesting, on our Darlly Filter Care Topics page. Take a quick look, there may just be something that can help improve your hot tub experience.

We regularly add new topics to our Filter Care pages. Remember to drop by to read more articles about how to care for your hot tub filters.

If you have any questions or suggestions for topics that you would like us to cover on our Filter Care Topics page, please do not hesitate to get in touch.

We will do what we can to help.

Happy Hot Tubbing!

The Darlly Team

Looking for cheap hot tub filters? Wanting to save money? Let’s think about the ‘save money’ part. Is buying and using cheap filters really going to save money and give you the hot tub experience you deserve? Imagine having top quality filters to give you a better bathing experience AND saving money. Sounds too good to be true doesn’t it?

Read on to discover how easy it is…….

Let’s compare ‘Cheap filters’ with quality Darlly filters

Let’s compare ‘Cheap filters’ with quality Darlly filters. There are a few important and interesting points to take into consideration here.  

Cheap filters are, obviously, cheaper to buy than Darlly quality-filters.

Think about this though. How soon will you need to replace the cheap filters?

Not only do all Darlly filters have very high quality filter material as standard, they are also strong and robust, and easily able to withstand thorough cleaning time after time.

Filter Change Time

At filter change time, instead of needing to replace worn-out and/or damaged  cheap filters with more cheap filters, just clean the quality Darlly filters ready for re-use.

For information about cleaning your hot tub filters, follow the link to the Darlly Filter Care filter cleaning topic. 

Cheap Hot Tub Filters v. Quality Darlly Hot Tub Filters

The quality of the filter material plays a huge part in your hot tub enjoyment.

The ability of the filter material to remove dirt and contaminants from the water you bathe in plays a major part in maintaining high water quality.

Cheap filters of unknown quality may well not have the ability to capture the seen and unseen contaminants that you would hope.

Think about the cost of replacing cheap filters two, three, four or more times more often than quality Darlly filters. Which filters are the most cost effective now?

All filters are not the same, and can vary enormously in both construction and  filter material quantity and quality. 

When comparing a Darlly filter with a physically similarly sized cheaper filter, the Darlly filter was found to have around 20% more filter material. This not only helps with time between filter changes but can also help with water flow rate.

Two sets of Hot Tub Filters?

Remember that it is recommended that you use two sets of filters, one in the hot tub and the other in the cleaning drying cycle. For more information, read our Filter Care Topic Why You Should Let Hot Tub Filters Dry After Cleaning. 

Anything else that might be of interest?

We have additional interesting information, and many other relevant topics to help you with hot tub and filter care, which you may find interesting, on our Darlly Filter Care Topics page. Take a quick look, there may just be something that can help improve your hot tub experience. What’s not to like?

Where Can I Find More Information About Darlly Filters?

Our website has all the information you will need to discover more about the Darlly range of filters and also has the the Darlly Filter Finder to help you identify the filters that you need.

If you have any questions or suggestions for topics that you would like us to cover on our Filter Care Topics page, please do not hesitate to get in touch.

We will do what we can to help.

Happy Hot Tubbing!

The Darlly Team

Does my hot tub use filter? All hot tubs have and need filters because If they didn’t, the water would soon become so dirty with contamination. Meaning that it would become completely uninviting to bathe in and also unsafe. 

It may be that your hot tub water is not very inviting and you are now looking for a solution to your hot tub’s yacky water….

Why is the water dirty in my hot tub?

There can be numerous reasons why the water is not crystal clear. Does the control panel show a flow error message? If so, it could be that the filters that you don’t know about in your hot tub are severely contaminated and nearly completely blocked.

If you don’t have a flow error message, it could be that there aren’t actually any filters in the filter housing, and the dirty unfiltered water is just being pumped back into the hot tub which is not ideal is it? 

Why does a hot tub need filters?

Efficient and effective filters are not only an important necessity to help maintain high quality water for the bathers. The filters also help to keep the unseen plumbing and pipework clean and protect the expensive pumps.

We obviously need to do something about this poor water quality, so where do we find this filter housing?

Where are the filters located in my hot tub?

The filter housing is usually located inside the tub just below the waterline. There is usually a recess in the hot tub where the water flows into the filter housing, usually through a basket type device called a filter basket or skimmer basket.

This is designed to catch and stop any larger items being sucked down and causing damage to the filters, or even the pumps.

The filters are usually located below the skimmer basket, but before we start removing the lift-off panels or the skimmer basket, ensure that the hot tub is switched off for safety.

Take a look under the skimmer basket into the filter housing. Hopefully you should find one or maybe two filters there.

Where can I find information on how to clean hot tub filters?

Visit our Filter Care page to read about cleaning your filters. If you require replacement filters, head to our Filter Finder to help identify the quality Darlly filters you need.

For help and information about caring for your hot tub filters, follow the link to the Filter Care page on our website where you will find a wide range of easy-read topics about filters and hot tubs to help you enjoy crystal clear water in your hot tub.

If you have any questions about hot tub filters or suggestions for Filter Care topics, please do not hesitate to get in touch. We’re here to help and would love to hear from you.

Happy Hot Tubbing!

The Darlly Team

Why do hot tub filters need to dry before refitting?

Why you should let hot tub filters dry after cleaning

It is easy to think that once you have completed the final and seriously thorough rinse of cleaning your hot tub filters that the job is done. But is it? 

Well, not quite……..

Just as important as all of your effort, time and care taken cleaning the filters is the real final stage, drying. Complete and thorough drying.

Why do we need to let the filters dry? They’re only going back into the water in the hot tub aren’t they? Well, yes they are, but that is the only thing you want going back into the water isn’t it? We really don’t want bacteria in there do we?

Hot Tub Bacteria?

Bacteria. Like all other organisms, bacteria need water to survive. If the filter is not completely dry, the bacteria can thrive deep within ready to be re-introduced into your hot tub water.

A wet filter can trap bacteria and other contaminants that can quickly multiply. 

Thoroughly cleaning the filter, and then allowing it to dry completely helps to alleviate this problem.

Filters left stored wet or damp can often go green with algae which is very difficult to remove and not very inviting to put back into your hot tub really is it?

How to dry a hot tub filter

It is probably not best practise to apply direct excessive heat to a wet or damp hot tub filter so let’s not do that. 🙂

After cleaning, allow excessive water to drain naturally from the filter before placing the filter in a suitable location to allow to dry completely. 

A warm location will aid drying. It can take a surprising length of time for a filter to dry completely, and can be helped by allowing a warm air to flow freely around and through the centre of the filter.   

Two sets of hot tub filters

To allow continuous use and enjoyment of your hot tub whilst cleaning and thoroughly drying your filters, it is good practise to have two sets of filters so that at filter cleaning time, it is simply and swiftly out with the dirty filters and in with the clean. It really is that simple. 

Two sets of filters properly cared for should last much longer than just one set that is in continuous use, plus the fact that your hot tub is available for you to enjoy whenever you want.

Remember, you should not run a hot tub without filters installed.

Washing away all traces of detergent 

After cleaning the filters, it is important to thoroughly irrigate and wash the filters with clean water to completely remove all traces of any cleaning filter cleaner fluids and detergents. It is difficult to over-emphasise the importance of this is as any residuals can affect the water balance and chemistry, which you will then need to address. 

To sum up:-

Swap your dirty filters out of your hot tub and replace with clean ones.

Clean the dirty filters

Thoroughly wash out all traces of cleaner with clean water

Dry the clean filters completely and store until required at next filter change.

For more useful and interesting information about hot tub filters, follow the link to our Filter Care Topics .

Need help identifying your filter? Take a look at our Filter Finder

Follow the link to our website to view our ranges of filters and the award-winning Sanistream inline dosing system.

If you have any questions or suggestions for other Filter Care topics, please do not hesitate to get in touch. We are here to help.

Happy Hot Tubbing!

The Darlly Team

How do I identify my hot tub filters?

Well, the time has arrived to replace the filters in the hot tub. They’ve been in there quite a while, you can’t for the life of you remember the part number, and the dreaded ‘How do I identify my hot tub filters?’ question is raised.

‘Fear not’ we shout!  At Darlly, we are here to help with our easy-to-use Darlly Filter Finder.  

The Darlly Filter Finder can help to rapidly either identify your filter exactly or at least narrow the search down to just a few possibilities to check.

The more details you have about your filter, the easier it is to identify. 

What information do I need to identify my filters?

Any information from the list below will be useful in identifying your filters. Not everything is required so just enter the information you have as you go through the short quiz to find the filter you and your hot tub deserve.

Reference code (Manufacturers number)

Brand of hot tub

Design of top of filter – match the image

Design of bottom of filter – match the image

Length of filter

Diameter of filter

What do I do with this information to find my filters?

By using measurements and by matching the thread-type pictures, you should be able to find the quality filter your hot tub deserves.

Find our ‘Filter Finder’ on the Darlly Website or follow the link here to fly directly to the Filter Finder.

For further information and interesting topics about Hot Tub filters, Hot Tubs, and Filter Care, follow the link to our Filter Care section for a range of relevant and useful hot tub topics.

Darlly manufacture a number of different ranges of filters for various requirements. Click on the ‘Filters’ dropdown on the Darlly website to view the ranges to find the quality filter to best suit your requirements.

Those pages also offer another facility to help find your filter by ticking the relevant ‘Find Your Filter’ boxes to narrow the results down.

Not sure about how to measure your filter or identify the top and bottom of your filter? You’re in the right place, just follow our easy visual guide below.

How to measure a hot tub filter

You can use the dimensions that you have to help get to the required filter. How do you measure a filter? Easy! Follow our easy-to-use guide below showing how to measure the relevant dimensions and identify the thread type, if any. All measurements are in cm.

External diameter

This is the measurement across the filter from edge to edge. This example is 12cm.

Length

Measure the length of the filter but do not include the handle or thread.

Internal / Inside diameter

Thread and fitting types

There are number of different types of fitting and thread types available. Filters can have male and female threads which can be coarse or fine, and possibly tapered.

Photo shows male threads, fine on the left hand side and coarse on the right hand side.

Measure the thread diameter. This is the outer edges of the thread for male thread. For a female thread, measure the inner diameter.

The Fine Thread (MPT) has from 6 – 8 fine twists (Pleatco ends P4 or F2M) whereas the Coarse Thread (SAE) will have as little as only 3 thicker threads (Pleatco ends P3 or F2S). 

Male thread diameter measurement

Female thread diameter measurement

You now have all the dimensions that you will need to help identify your filter.

Just two more items to note now, nearly there!  🙂

Silverstream and Sanistream Filters

What is the original colour of the actual filter fabric? If it is white, it is a normal filter. 

If it is blue, it is probably a Silverstream Antibacterial filter.

The last item relates to the top of the filter. Does it have a removeable twist-and-pull lid? 

If yes, this will be a Sanistream filter designed to take an in-line dosing pod such as the Darlly Sanistream DL815 SpaPod (suitable for chlorine or bromine tablets) or a Darlly DL816 AquaSPArkle Pod which is ready-filled with sufficient bromine tablets to last you up to a month. 

You should now have all the information you need to identify your filter on the Darlly Filter Finder or Darlly ‘Find your filter’ pages in the online catalogue.

Further assistance or more help and information required? No problem!

The label on the outer wrapper of new filters will have all part number details. (Please keep this for next time 🙂 …..! )
Darlly, Pleatco and Unicel will also sometimes have the part number on the end cap. Our brochure and website darlly.eu contain all of the part numbers to help you. 

However, should you be without any part number after following the identification guide above and using our ‘Filter Finder’ guide using your measurements and brand identities, simply call us on +44 (0)1952 – 580500 we will be delighted to help you. 

If you have any suggestions for hot tub / spa topics or subjects that you would like to read about in our filter care section please get in touch and we will be more than happy to help 🙂

Happy Hot Tubbing!  🙂

The Darlly Team 🙂

Can I use a Darlly Sanistream SpaPod with a Frog inline sanitiser holder?

The good news is YES!!!!

The refillable Darlly Sanistream SpaPod will fit the Frog inline sanitiser system with the addition of a small clip to secure it in place. The clip is available from your usual Darlly filter supplier, part number DL817.

The Darlly Sanistream pod is refillable with your own choice of sanitiser tablets.

There is no need to buy a new pod whenever it is empty, simply refill with your choice of chlorine or bromine tablets. This is a more economical and environmentally friendly solution to continually replacing the single use pods each time the pod becomes empty.

 The AquaSPArkle pre-filled Bromine pods will also clip into place using the same method if you prefer to use pre-filled pods as shown above.

Part numbers for Darlly SaniStream, SpaPod and AquaSparkle

Follow the links below for more information:-

Darlly Sanistream SpaPod DL815

Darlly Sanistream SpaPod clip DL817

Aquasparkle pre-filled Bromine Pod DL900

How to use the pods with the Frog built-in inline dosing system

To attach the Darlly SpaPod or AquaSPArkle Bromine Pod to the built-in chemical dispenser support, simply snap the clip onto the pod, and then snap the other end of the clip onto the hot tub dispenser support as shown in the illustration. 

Ensure that the adaptor clip is securely attached both to the pod, and also to the inline dosing dispenser frame.

Don’t forget to adjust the dosing of the pod(s) before refitting. 

Can I use SpaPod with Frog inline Sanitiser holder? Now you know, Yes you can!

If you have any questions or suggestions for Filter Care topics, then please do not hesitate to get in contact, we are always happy to help.

Happy Hot Tubbing!

The Darlly Team

Darlly Filter Bucket

The Darlly Filter bucket is a space-saving design which is ideally suited to the cleaning of most hot tub filters.

The collapsable Darlly Filter Bucket is ideally dimensioned to accommodate either two shorter filters or one longer filter.

The bucket internal measurements are :-  

Maximum filter(s) length total :-   +/- 51cm

Maximum filter diameter :-  16cm submerged , 20cm (Not fully submerged).

The filter length is approximate as filters’ overall length can include external threads and handles. These can sometimes be overlapped to fit in the bucket when cleaning two filters.

Filters between 16-20cm diameter will fit into the bucket but will not be fully submerged, but occasionally can easily be rotated slightly to ensure even cleaning.

The shape and proportions of the bucket help reduce the amount of water and cleaning agent required to soak the filters compared to a bulky conventional round bucket. When cleaning is complete, the convenient pouring lip will help to make life a little easier when emptying the bucket. For more information about filter cleaning, follow the link to our Filter Cleaning Filter Care topic.

The 19cm tall bucket collapses down to less than 8cm including the folded handle, 6.5cm without, allowing it to hang conveniently on a wall, or be stored neatly on a shelf.

For more information about caring for your filters and hot tub, check out our Filter Care Topics.

If you have any ideas, comments, or suggestions for a Filter Care Topic that you would like us to cover, please do not hesitate to get in touch.

Happy Hot Tubbing!

The Darlly Team

Blocked Hot Tub Filter

My Hot Tub filter blocks quickly, is it faulty?

It is unlikely, so let us investigate why it is getting blocked.

Are you getting water flow errors?

If your hot tub filter gets blocked quickly, the chances are that it isn’t the filter that is the problem.

The filter is doing exactly what it is designed to do, collecting the dirt, debris and contaminants from the water, allowing bathers to enjoy clear clean water.  

Maybe the question should be ‘Why is the hot tub filter getting blocked?’ rather than ‘My Hot Tub filter blocks quickly, is it faulty?’

How does this dirt and contamination get into the hot tub?

Some is environmental, such as dust and dirt blowing about in the atmosphere, pollen, leaves, twigs, suicidal insects etc.

Most of it is transported into the hot tub by the bathers, often unknowingly.

How can I reduce this contamination entering the hot tub?

A few simple steps are all that is required to substantially reduce the contamination introduced into the hot tub.

Check that the hot tub cover fits neatly and securely on top of the tub, ensuring that there aren’t any gaps that would allow access for insects or dust. This also helps to retain heat within the tub. 

Let’s not beat about the bush here. Bathers are responsible for taking much of the contamination into the hot tub. Bathers should always shower before hot-tubbing. 

Care should be taken to reduce the possibility of contamination as far as possible. 

What do people take into the hot tub with themselves? 

The list is quite extensive; hair products (hair spray, colouring, shampoo and conditioner), make-up, tanning products, hair, skin flakes, contamination from clothing etc inc. soaps, detergents, and softeners, deodorants, sweat, dirt carried in on soles of feet, all contribute towards a reduction in water quality. 

All dirt and contaminants can affect the water balance. This all adds to the cost of chemicals required to maintain the water balance, in addition to increased filter cleaning, maintenance and replacement.

Spilled food and beverages also have a detrimental effect on water quality and filter contamination.

Filters

Filters of differing qualities and price are available. There will probably also be a be a significant variation in the performance of the filters.

A cheaper filter may have a smaller area of filter material than a quality filter which may restrict or block flow sooner than a quality filter.

The cheaper filter may also have a poorer quality filtration material and therefore fail to remove the unwanted contaminants efficiently from the water.

Darlly Quality Filters are designed to trap contaminants and debris efficiently. This not only helps to maintain water quality, it also helps protect the workings of the hot tub. Darlly filter material is also tough, durable, and robust enough to withstand repeated cleaning cycles, thus having a significantly longer service life than a cheap filter whilst maintaining its highly efficient filtration capability.

Not sure how to properly clean your hot tub filter? Read our Filter Care Topic ‘How to clean a dirty hot tub filter‘

How long should a hot tub filter last for?

As you can imagine, it is undesirable to have contaminated, dirty, and greasy water running through the pumps or contaminating the unseen under-tub pipework and plumbing supplying the jets. Now that could really end up being expensive to remedy!

To enjoy our hot tub experience, what we desire most is clean water. 

By using Darlly quality filters, keeping contamination out of the hot tub by taking a little extra care, and with regular hot tub and filter maintenance, this can be achieved. 

Check out our Filter Care Topics about all things Hot Tubs and filter.

If you have any questions or ideas for a Filter Care topic, please do not hesitate to get in contact.

Happy Hot Tubbing!

The Darlly Team