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FROG® 5-Way Test Strips | 50 ct | For Mineral Systems

By FROG
SKU: 01-14-3318
$12.95

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Description

FROG® 5 Way Test Strips are the dedicated water testing strips for FROG® mineral systems and any spa or pool running on a lower-chlorine or lower-bromine program. The bottle contains 50 strips, each capable of reading five water-balance parameters in seconds: Free Chlorine, Bromine, pH, Total Alkalinity, and Total Hardness.

Why test strips matter and why FROG®-specific test strips matter: standard hot tub test strips are calibrated for traditional chlorine programs that run at 3–5 ppm of free chlorine. FROG® mineral systems are designed to operate at much lower sanitizer levels (typically around 1 ppm) — the minerals are doing the rest of the work. Try to read a FROG® mineral spa with a generic test strip and you'll get a "low chlorine" warning on water that's actually perfectly balanced. The FROG 5-Way strips are calibrated for these lower ranges, so the readings match how your system was designed to operate.

For traditional chlorine or bromine spas that aren't using FROG® minerals, these strips work just as well as a standard 5-way test strip — they read the same five parameters across the standard ranges. They're a fine general-purpose hot tub and pool test strip, with the added benefit of giving accurate readings at the lower end of the scale.

Why Reading the Right Range Matters: A test strip is only useful if its color scale actually matches what's happening in your water. Standard strips can read "low chlorine" on a properly sanitized FROG® mineral spa, which prompts owners to dose unnecessary chlorine. FROG® 5-Way strips are designed to read accurately at the lower levels FROG® systems use — so you don't add chlorine you don't need.

Brand

FROG®

What's in the Box
  • 1 x Bottle of FROG® 5 Way Test Strips (50 strips per bottle)

Note: 50 strips per bottle covers roughly 6 months of weekly testing, or about 10 weeks if you test after every soak. Keep the bottle tightly capped and out of direct sunlight to keep the chemistry on each pad accurate.

Key Features
  • Five readings on one strip — Free Chlorine, Bromine, pH, Total Alkalinity, and Total Hardness.
  • Calibrated for lower sanitizer ranges — accurate readings on FROG mineral systems where chlorine or bromine runs lower than a non-mineral program.
  • 50 strips per bottle — roughly six months of weekly testing.
  • Two-second read — dip, shake, read.
  • Works on pools and spas — usable across hot tubs, swim spas, and pool applications.
  • Standard 5-way coverage — also works as a general-purpose strip on traditional chlorine or bromine spas that aren't using FROG minerals.
How It Works

The Five Pads

Each strip has five color-changing pads, one for each test parameter. Dip the strip, hold it horizontally, wait two seconds, and compare each pad against the color chart printed on the bottle. The five readings tell you whether your water is properly sanitized and properly balanced — the two halves of healthy spa water.

Sanitizer Pads (Chlorine & Bromine)

These tell you whether the active chlorine or bromine level in your water is in the right range. For FROG mineral spas, you're targeting roughly 1 ppm of free chlorine or 1–3 ppm bromine — lower than a non-mineral program because the minerals are doing part of the sanitizing work. For traditional spas, target the higher ranges (typically 2–4 ppm chlorine or 3–5 ppm bromine).

Balance Pads (pH, Alkalinity, Hardness)

These three pads handle the water chemistry that keeps your sanitizer working and your spa surfaces protected. pH target: 7.2–7.8. Total Alkalinity target: 80–120 ppm. Total Hardness (Calcium Hardness) target: 150–250 ppm. Out-of-range readings on any of these will affect comfort, sanitizer efficiency, and equipment wear, so they're worth keeping in line.

FROG 5-Way vs. FROG @ease Test Strips

These two FROG test strip products are not interchangeable. Use FROG 5-Way if you're running a traditional chlorine, bromine, or FROG mineral system (like Filter Mate) — these read actual sanitizer levels. Use FROG @ease Test Strips only if you're running a FROG @ease SmartChlor® system — those have a special "out indicator" for the SmartChlor cartridge instead of a chlorine ppm reading.

Pro Tip: Hold Horizontal After Dipping— Keep the strip flat (pads up) for the two-second read, then shake just once to remove excess water. Holding it vertically lets water and dye run between pads, which can muddle the readings — especially between adjacent pads with similar starting colors.

Directions for Use
  1. Pop open the bottle and remove one strip. Close the bottle tightly right away to keep moisture out.
  2. Dip the strip in the water for 2 seconds. Don't swirl, just dip and lift.
  3. Remove the strip with pads facing up and shake once to remove excess water.
  4. Read the strip immediately against the color chart on the bottle. Match each pad to the closest color reading.
  5. Adjust water chemistry as needed. Add sanitizer if chlorine/bromine is low. Adjust pH, alkalinity, or hardness using your usual balancing products.
  6. Test at least once a week — and after any heavy use, water addition, or chemical adjustment.

Pro Tip: Test Before You Treat— Always test the water before adjusting anything. Adding chemicals without testing first is the most common cause of overcorrection — and overcorrection costs you more product than the original imbalance. Test, adjust based on what the strip actually shows, retest in 4–6 hours.

Specifications
  • Product: FROG® 5 Way Test Strips
  • Brand: FROG®
  • SKU: 01-14-3318
  • Quantity: 50 strips per bottle
  • Tests for: Free Chlorine, Bromine, pH, Total Alkalinity, Total Hardness
  • Read time: Approximately 2 seconds
  • Testing frequency: At least once per week, plus after heavy use
  • Target pH range: 7.2–7.8
  • Target Total Alkalinity: 80–120 ppm
  • Target Total Hardness: 150–250 ppm
  • Target chlorine (mineral system): ~1 ppm free chlorine
  • Target chlorine (non-mineral): 2–4 ppm free chlorine
  • Target bromine: 1–3 ppm (mineral) or 3–5 ppm (non-mineral)
  • Compatible with: FROG mineral systems, chlorine, bromine, ozone, biguanide; pools and spas
  • Not compatible with: FROG @ease SmartChlor® systems (use FROG @ease Test Strips instead)
  • Shipping: Classified as hazardous material — ships UPS Ground only
Compatibility

Works with:

  • FROG mineral systems — including the Filter Mate Mineral Stick and any other FROG mineral cartridge running alongside conventional sanitizer
  • Chlorine systems (traditional dichlor programs)
  • Bromine systems
  • Ozone systems
  • Biguanide systems
  • Pools and spas — both applications

These strips are not the right choice for FROG @ease SmartChlor® systems — those need the @ease Test Strips with the SmartChlor "out indicator" instead of a chlorine ppm reading.

Running FROG @ease? You'll want the FROG @ease Test Strips instead — they have a single color-match "out indicator" designed specifically for the SmartChlor® cartridge. Our team can help you pick the right strips if you're unsure which FROG system you have — just reach out.

Most products purchased from our online shop within the last 30 days are eligible for return. Please review our return policy to see the list of items that cannot be returned.

Some major items that are non-returnable:

  • Gift cards
  • Electronics
  • Pumps / Motors
  • Hot Tubs
  • Closeouts
  • Fireplaces
  • Electric Fireplaces
  • Massage Chairs
  • See return policy below for full list of non-returnables.

FROG® Brand FAQs

What makes FROG® different from regular chlorine or bromine?

FROG uses minerals as a first line of defense, which lets it sanitize with a much lower level of chlorine or bromine than traditional systems. Minerals and sanitizer work together to keep water clean two ways at once. The payoff for you is water that feels softer, has little to no chemical smell, and takes far less hands-on maintenance.

What is "Fresh Mineral Water®"?

It's FROG's term for the water its systems create: cleaner, clearer, softer, and easier to maintain. The minerals condition the water and help hold pH steady, while the reduced sanitizer level handles the rest — so you get sparkling water that's gentler on skin, hair, and swimwear than heavily chlorinated water.

Do FROG® cartridges really reduce how much chlorine I use?

Yes. Because the minerals do part of the sanitizing work, FROG® systems need significantly less chlorine or bromine to keep water clean. The @ease line with SmartChlor® Technology, for example, can use a fraction of the chlorine of a conventional hot tub program while still keeping the water properly sanitized.

How do the pre-filled cartridges work?

Each FROG® cartridge comes pre-filled with the right mineral or sanitizer formula — there's nothing to measure or mix. You simply drop or snap the cartridge into its holder or dispenser, set it, and let it do the work as water circulates. When a cartridge is spent, you swap in a fresh one. That's the "no mess, no guess, no stress" approach
FROG® is known for.

Will FROG® products work with my pool, hot tub, or swim spa?

FROG® makes systems for all three, in sizes ranging from small hot tubs to large in-ground pools, so there's almost always a fit. Some products are model-specific (for example, @ease cartridges sized for particular spa brands), so it's worth confirming the right version for your equipment. If you're unsure which FROG® product matches your setup, reach out and we'll help you pin it down.

How often do I replace the cartridges, and do I still need to shock?

Replacement timing depends on the product and your usage — mineral cartridges generally last for months, while sanitizer cartridges are swapped more often (the system's indicator tells you when). You'll still add a periodic shock to keep water freshly oxidized, but typically far less often than a fully manual program requires. Always follow the schedule printed on your specific product's packaging.

About Frog®

For more than 25 years, FROG® has been making pool, hot tub, and swim spa care dramatically simpler — without asking owners to compromise on water quality. Made by King Technology, FROG built its reputation on one patented idea: combine the natural cleaning power of minerals with a low, steady level of sanitizer, so your water stays clean using far less chlorine or bromine than traditional methods.

The result is what FROG calls Fresh Mineral Water® — water that's cleaner because it fights bacteria two ways (minerals plus a low level of sanitizer), clearer because balanced minerals help hold pH steady, and softer because those same minerals condition the water for a gentler feel on your skin. And it's easier, because nearly everything comes in pre-filled, drop-in cartridges. No measuring, no mess, no guesswork.

That convenience-first philosophy runs through the entire FROG lineup — from the SmartChlor®-powered @ease systems for hot tubs and swim spas, to the bromine-based Serene line, to the POOL FROG and Flippin' FROG systems for pools of every size, plus a full range of support chemicals and problem-solvers. Whatever you're sanitizing, there's a FROG product sized for it, and they're all built around the same goal: less time on maintenance, more time enjoying the water.