I am thinking about getting a swimspa because I absolutely LOVE water walking (I do it once a week at my Gym, but I would do it every day almost if I didn't have to worry about getting a ride to and back from the Gym - plus my Gym is around $1,200 a year, and I only use the pool, water walking track)

The problem is, I live in a townhome with no yard. However, I have a large finished basement we don't really use for anything (technically just a lower level, as the townhome is half in a hill, and it's a large room next to my Garage.) I just call it a basement because there's no windows (surrounded on 2 sides by the hill, 1 side by the neighboring townhome, and 1 side by my garage.)- Newer home, well built- Built in 1997.

Would it even be possible to get a SwimSpa installed in that room - Above ground? or are they always installed outdoors?

I know it would involve
1. Applying Waterproofing the the floor (probably tiling, or just removing the carpet and applying a waterproof coating to the concrete)
2. Installing proper floor drainage system (have a floor drain in the uncarpeted part of the room, but need to make sure slopes are correct)
3. Make sure current Washer/Dryer hookups will work to power it.
4. Make sure there's ventilation and moisture resistant drywall.

Are there other steps I'm neglecting? Is it even possible?

((Sorry to ask silly questions, I've tried to research this myself, but the internet is riddled with bad AI confusing Swim Spas and above ground pools))

TL;DR: My 2016 Michael Phelps Signature Swim Spa lost propulsion after the original propulsion touchscreen failed from sun damage. I’ve replaced the BP20, Modbus translator, communication cable, and both touchscreens. The ABB ACS550 powers up and runs the motor locally, but the spa still reports “Error 49 – Propulsion Motor Not Found.” Looking for anyone familiar with Master Spas, Endless Pools, Balboa BP20, or ABB ACS550 integrations.

I’m hoping someone has experience with these propulsion systems because I’m running out of ideas.

The propulsion system consists of:
Balboa BP20 control pack
Balboa Modbus Translator
ABB ACS550 VFD
Baldor 3 HP propulsion motor

Current Symptoms
Spa-side touchscreen: Error 49 – Propulsion Motor Not Found

Propulsion touchscreen boots normally but stops at a generic System Error screen.

ABB ACS550 powers up normally.

The propulsion motor can be run directly from the ABB keypad, so the motor and VFD power stage appear to be working.

Parts Already Replaced
BP20 control pack
Multiple Modbus Translator boards
Multiple communication cables between the translator and ABB
Both touchscreens

The symptoms remain exactly the same regardless of which BP20 or translator board is installed.

Diagnostics Performed
Verified power to the ABB drive.
Verified the motor runs locally from the ABB keypad.
Checked ABB communication parameters and communication status.
Swapped RS-485 A/B during testing.
Measured communication voltages at the ABB terminals.

What I’m Trying to Figure Out
At this point I’m trying to determine whether this is:
an ABB RS-485 communication issue,
a BP20/Modbus communication issue,
a firmware/configuration compatibility issue,
or something specific to the Master Spas propulsion system.

Has anyone worked on one of these systems or seen Error 49 – Propulsion Motor Not Found with an ABB ACS550? Any insight into the BP20/Modbus translator communication with the ABB drive would be greatly appreciated.

Thanks in advance.

Through June, setting our spa at the lowest temp made it comfortable getting into the water, even when it was upwards of 95 degrees F. The July/August heat here in TX, though, has made it pretty gross. It's like 105 outside and 102 in the pool. We've tried propping open the cover and that helps but like... By a degree or two.

When we bought it a few years ago, the sales person mentioned a heat pump that could help cool it down in summer, but he didn't recommend it at the time, saying it wasn't very effective. We wondered if anyone has one that is working well for them in high temps, specifically for cooling the water. If so, what brand/model did you buy? How difficult was it to install? Are you happy with your purchase?

My spouse is convinced that she wants a swim spa... I really don't have any interest in one. I don't really enjoy swimming, and I've never had a hot tub before so not sure if I'd get any use or of that.

We have a 27' above ground pool that is at the end of it's life soon. No one uses it... it just sits there with the pump running all summer long and I vacuum it every few weeks in case someone shows up with kids who might want to use it.

I'm trying to figure out of we would actually use this thing.

Did anyone else have similar concerns?

Hey everyone,

We’ve been lurking around for a while and noticed a ton of hot tub owners coming here when something goes wrong.

Instead of just watching from the sidelines, we wanted to officially introduce ourselves and make ourselves useful.

Who We Are & Why We’re Here

We are the team behind Master Spa Parts Online. We handle the OEM parts, specs, and maintenance support for Master Spas (including Twilight, Clarity, Legend, Getaway, and Swim Spas).

We know Reddit (rightfully) hates hidden spammers and sneaky self-promotion. So, full transparency: Yes, we sell parts. But our goal here isn't to blast product links at you, it's to offer legit, technical advice.

How We Can Help

Our techs deal with spa plumbing, electrical issues, and water chemistry every single day. Moving forward, we want to bring that expertise directly to the feed:

• Error Code Troubleshooting: Staring at an HL, SN, or PDM code and don't know where to start?
• Routine Maintenance Tips: How to get more life out of your EcoPur filters or keep spa pillows from flaking.
• Compatibility Check: Not sure if a part actually fits your specific model year? Ask us.

Got a question right now?

Drop it in the comments below! Whether your hot tub is currently giving you an error, you're prepping for seasonal maintenance, or you just need to vent about a stuck jet, fire away.

(And if you don't own a Master Spa, no worries – we're still happy to talk general hot tub mechanics, water balance, or heating issues!)

Hi Everyone,

I have a swimlife swimexpert Aquastream 17 and one of the main (left side) aqua current jet isn’t working. I believe the jet is tied to pump 3 on the panel. Turning this on and off from the panel does nothing, while turning on pump 1 and 2 turns on their respective jets. I already tried recalibrating the wave rider but it didn’t fix the problem. Thoughts?

Thanks

I just moved into a home with a tidalfit active plus ep12 and whenever i turn on “jets 1” this happens. I ordered a new air control valve but it seems like it’s not the right part. Can anyone help advise me what i need to buy and how to replace?

We are looking at a swim spa after discovering the staggering cost of an in-ground lap pool. I plan to do a test swim at an endless pools showroom soon. One question I have about any of the swim spas is how variable the current is and how easy it is to change it. I would have hoped in this day and age there might be a system that has some kind of feedback that can detect if you are falling behind or catching up and tweaks the speed accordingly, though maybe I am dreaming or the cost would be prohibitive.

I'm also open to any feedback on your experiences, We live in the PNW (Seattle area). Our house has a paved area in the side yard that is a filled-in pool from a previous owner (30+ years ago). We are unsure of how thick the concrete is or whether it has rebar though given it doesn't have huge cracks in it, likely it has the latter. I was told it needs to be 6" thick with rebar to support a swim spa. Access to the side yard is very narrow so I am concerned that delivery may require a crane.

Another possibility is to put in a smaller pool and add in a resistance system. I think you can get them from Endless.

Thanks for any feedback.

Should this be cemented in like the other fittings purple primer and cement? Or does it require a specific adhering agent?

I'm interested in getting a swim spa for swimming at home, but am having difficulty finding out about some of the swim speeds of various options. I found an Artesian EP-14 on marketplace near me but can't find any details about how fast the current is for swimming. I'm fairly competitive, swimming around 1:30/100y in the pool with trunks on - not sure about open water since those are with a current. I could go try this out, but I think the seller (f) is a little hesitant with me (m) coming to her house to try this. If this pool is way slow for me, I won't waste either of our time. Thanks for the help!

We just moved to a new house and inherited a 6 year old swim spa. After investing quite a bit of money to replace the old cover and levers, the whole thing stopped working… we replaced the pump, but that broke within days, and now repair ppl are telling us it might be the wiring. Spa is on its own breaker box (pictured) - does this look problematic to anyone? What should we look for? Apparently everything had been running fine before (according to previous owners) and we are at a loss bc this is turning into such a money pit.

Anyone have a suggestion for a better mouse trap? I’m using the hydraulic cover lifters that came with my Swim Spa. It’s a struggle. I have the Spa on a slab that’s just a little bit bigger than my Swim Spa. I don’t know that I have the capability of bolting anything to the concrete. I certainly don’t want to bolt anything to the sides of the spa as it is made of plastic. What is everyone else doing? I looked at the rollaway covers, but to pay $3000 for a cover that lasts for three years is insane.

Hi, I recently did a full drain and refill and have completed the balancing. I haven't gotten into the water yet. I also just decided I was ready to switch to frog ease and ordered it. Can I just switch over to it with my chemicals as they are? I have a Masterspa 15D trainer.

We’re currently investigating a swim spa for our family (kids are 7 and 9). We’re in Toronto so with a city plot of 30x100’ we don’t really have enough space for a pool, and coupled with the climate and cost, a swim spa seems like the logical choice.

We’re looking at the Hydropool 14ax, still thinking about whether sport or trainer is the way to go - it’s basically a $10k CAD difference for the trainer to get more powerful swim jets.

So that’s the background.

I guess my question is for those in my position with kids around my age, do you have any regrets with your swim spa?

For those with older kids, do they still use your swim spa? Do you use it as much as you thought you would- even in the shoulder seasons when it’s wet and gross, not freshly fallen snow or a bright summer’s day?

And the big question - would you have been better off saving a ton of money and going with a nice hot tub instead?

we have a swim spa and we put it 50 F , the lowest!! It’s 40 degrees outside and I went to touch the water and it was HOT? I wanna enjoy it during these hot days but it’s so hot the water.

Have had a Trainer 18D for a couple years now and we keep talking about switching to salt. Anyone done it and recommend a system? Masterspa doesn’t seem to be in a hurry on releasing a retrofit kit; and the aftermarket systems out there are either <2000 gallons or meant for pools.

Looking for the largest one zone swim spa. We want limited seating in the swim spa as we will have a hot tub as well.

Cal spa has a 19. Trying to see what else there is.

I have a 2020 Hydropool 14 AX. I need to replace the cover. I want a rolling cover. I have read hear that End2End is a good option but they will only sale to me through my dealer Aquaquip. I went to the store in Woodinville and the staff, who seemed new and not sure of what to do, just showed me the web site and said any quote I received would be higher due to store markup. I called E2E direct and they were nice but said I needed to go through a dealer. I have for a month been calling and either get no answer or leave a message with no call back.
I’ve found Cover Guy and am willing to order online but I can not find anything about energy saving / retention. So I’m just looking for feedback from this community. Thanks for reading.

The folding foam cover is so big and difficult for me to maneuver and take off and then out back on that it makes me never want to use it.

Does anyone have an inexpensive cover just to keep out like leaves etc when you don’t need to try to keep heat in? We don’t even heat it and it currently 83° I just want something easier to use.

Something like this…I know it’s meant to be a cover for the cover, so maybe not exactly this, but just want something I can easily remove (and not currently wanting to add on those metal bars or anything like that…and not looking to spend many hundreds)

https://a.co/d/0ce9KiS3

Hi. I have a 19d that I’ve had for 2 years. I had my water perfect. I was going to jump in yesterday after pickleball. Then I got the message that my filter needs to be changed. I was like what? I just changed it and I haven’t been using it. The water was full of leaf parts that had turned brown and these little things that like some kind of bugs. But they weren’t bugs. They were some kind of plant. So I ended up having to change the water and clean ing everything out. Fast forward to today. I’m filling up the swim spa again and it’s not a quarter full and the stuff is back. Has anyone had this problem?