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Leisure Time Spa 56 5 lb | Chlorine Sanitizer

SKU: LTS21
$48.99

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Description

Leisure Time Spa 56 Chlorinating Granules are a concentrated, fast-dissolving granular chlorine sanitizer engineered specifically for spas and hot tubs. Active chemistry: 99% sodium dichloro-s-triazinetrione dihydrate (commonly called sodium dichlor), delivering 55% available chlorine — one of the highest concentrations available in a stabilized residential spa product. EPA-approved, hot-water optimized, and trusted for over 40 years as the foundation of Leisure Time's chlorine-based Simple Spa Care Program.

Chlorine remains the most reliable sanitizer in the world for a reason. It kills bacteria, viruses, and pathogens within seconds of contact, breaks down quickly into harmless byproducts, and works across an enormous range of conditions. In a hot tub — where water temperatures favor microbial growth and bather load can spike sharply — having a fast-acting, predictable sanitizer matters more than in any other recreational water environment.

Spa 56 is engineered to do exactly that. The dichlor chemistry dissolves cleanly in seconds with the jets running, brings residual chlorine into the ideal 2–3 ppm range within minutes, and includes a built-in stabilizer (cyanuric acid, formed during dissolution) that helps protect the chlorine from breakdown by UV light and high temperatures. A 5 lb bucket provides several months of routine sanitation for a typical residential spa, plus the headroom for periodic superchlorination every 2–4 weeks.

Pro Tip: Add chlorine after a soak, not before. Bathers introduce the organic load (oils, sweat, lotion, skin cells) that chlorine is designed to oxidize — dosing afterward attacks that load while it's fresh and brings residual chlorine back up overnight, so the spa is ready and balanced for the next use. Dosing immediately before getting in often means soaking in chlorine that's too high while the contaminants you just added go to work consuming it.

Brand

Leisure Time®

What's in the Box
  • (1) Leisure Time Spa 56 Chlorinating Granules — 5 lb (80 oz) bucket of fast-dissolving granular dichlor chlorine
  • Child-resistant cap with measured-pour opening
  • Full dosing chart and application directions printed on the bucket label
Key Features
  • 99% sodium dichlor — 55% available chlorine, one of the most concentrated forms available for residential spa use
  • EPA-approved sanitizer formulated specifically for hot water environments
  • Sanitizes and shocks — same product handles daily residual and periodic superchlorination
  • Fast-dissolving granular — fully dissolves in seconds with jets running, no pre-mixing required
  • Built-in stabilization — dichlor includes cyanuric acid that protects chlorine from UV and heat breakdown
  • Near-neutral pH — dichlor doesn't crash spa pH the way some unstabilized chlorine forms can
  • Kills bacteria, viruses, and algae on contact at the recommended 2–3 ppm residual range
  • 5 lb economy size — most cost-effective per ounce in the Leisure Time chlorine line
  • Made in the USA by Leisure Time, a trusted name in spa chemistry for over 40 years
How It Works

When Spa 56 dissolves in spa water, the sodium dichlor compound releases hypochlorous acid (HOCl) — the active sanitizing form of chlorine. Hypochlorous acid penetrates the cell walls of bacteria, viruses, and other microorganisms and destroys them on contact, typically within seconds at the recommended 2–3 ppm residual range. The reaction produces harmless byproducts (mainly chloride salts and water) that don't accumulate or affect water quality.

Two technical advantages set dichlor apart from other chlorine forms used in spas. First, dichlor dissolves into water at a near-neutral pH (around 6.7) — meaning it doesn't crash spa pH downward the way calcium hypochlorite ("cal-hypo") does, and doesn't push it sharply upward the way liquid sodium hypochlorite does. Your pH stays stable from dose to dose, which dramatically reduces the time spent chasing balance. Second, dichlor includes a built-in cyanuric acid component (formed during the dissolution reaction) that acts as a chlorine stabilizer. Stabilized chlorine resists breakdown from UV light, heat, and aeration — exactly the three forces that destroy unstabilized chlorine fastest in a hot tub.

The downside of stabilization is that cyanuric acid accumulates over time. After 3–4 months of continuous dichlor use, cyanuric acid levels can climb high enough to slow chlorine's killing power (a condition called "chlorine lock"). This is one of the main reasons spa water needs to be drained and refilled every 3–4 months regardless of how clean it looks — the stabilizer buildup eventually outpaces what dilution and partial drains can fix. A regular refill schedule keeps your sanitizer working at full strength all year.

Pro Tip: Test chlorine residual with a quality test strip every 2–3 days, not just when you remember. Chlorine drops faster in a hot tub than most people realize — heat, aeration, and bather load can pull residual from 3 ppm down to 0.5 ppm in a single weekend of heavy use. A spa with zero residual chlorine for even 24 hours can develop biofilm in the plumbing that takes weeks to fully clear. Predictable, small daily doses beat large reactive corrections every time.

Directions for Use

Start-Up (Fresh Fill)

  1. Clean spa surfaces and rinse or replace the filter cartridge before filling.
  2. Fill the spa with fresh water. If using well water or fill water with metal content, treat with Metal Gon at this stage.
  3. Balance pH (7.2–7.8) and total alkalinity (80–120 ppm) before adding chlorine.
  4. Add ½ oz. of Spa 56 per 500 gallons of spa water (approximately ⅓ oz. for a typical 400-gallon spa) with the jets running.
  5. Circulate for at least 5 minutes, then test residual chlorine. Target range: 2–3 ppm.
  6. If residual is below 2 ppm, repeat the dose until target range is reached.
  7. Spa is ready to use once residual chlorine reads between 2 and 3 ppm.

Daily / As-Needed Maintenance

  1. Test residual chlorine with a quality test strip every 2–3 days at minimum, and after every use during heavy bather load periods.
  2. When residual drops below 2 ppm, add ½ oz. of Spa 56 per 500 gallons.
  3. Broadcast granules evenly over the water surface with jets running.
  4. Wait at least 5 minutes for full dissolution and mixing before retesting.
  5. Maintain residual at 2–3 ppm continuously between uses.

Superchlorination (Every 2–4 Weeks)

  1. Test pH and alkalinity first — both should be within range before superchlorinating.
  2. Add 1 oz. of Spa 56 per 500 gallons of spa water (double the standard maintenance dose).
  3. Run jets with cover off for 15 minutes, then leave cover off until chlorine residual drops back to 2–3 ppm before getting in.
  4. Superchlorination handles built-up organic load, eliminates chloramines, and is especially important after heavy bather usage, parties, or noticeable water quality decline.

Storage & Handling

  • Store in original container in a cool, dry, well-ventilated area, away from direct sunlight
  • Keep tightly closed when not in use — granular chlorine absorbs moisture from the air and degrades quickly if left open
  • Keep out of reach of children and pets
  • Never mix dry chlorine with other chemicals — including other chlorine products, bromine, biguanide, or oxidizers. Concentrated mixing can cause violent reactions or fire. Always add directly to spa water.
  • Store separately from acids, oxidizers, and organic materials

Pro Tip: A 5 lb bucket is a great value, but only if it stays dry. Spa 56 is hygroscopic — it pulls moisture out of humid air, which is exactly the environment around most spas. If you store it in a poolhouse, garage, or anywhere humidity fluctuates, transfer it into an airtight container the day you open the bucket, or buy the smaller 2 lb size and replace it more often. Clumped or yellowed chlorine has lost potency and won't deliver the residual you're dosing for.

Specifications
  • Product: Leisure Time Spa 56 Chlorinating Granules
  • Size: 5 lb (80 oz / 2.27 kg) bucket
  • Form: Fast-dissolving granular
  • Active Ingredient: Sodium Dichloro-s-Triazinetrione Dihydrate (99%)
  • Available Chlorine: 55%
  • EPA Approved: Yes
  • Application: Daily or as-needed residual maintenance, plus superchlorination every 2–4 weeks
  • Dose Rate (Maintenance): ½ oz. per 500 gallons
  • Dose Rate (Superchlorination): 1 oz. per 500 gallons
  • Treatment Capacity (5 lb): Approximately 160 standard maintenance doses
  • Target Chlorine Residual: 2–3 ppm
  • Target pH Range: 7.2–7.8
  • Target Alkalinity Range: 80–120 ppm
  • Sanitizer Compatibility: Chlorine-program spas; NOT compatible with biguanide systems (Baqua Spa, SoftSoak)
  • Country of Origin: Made in USA
  • Brand: Leisure Time Spa Care
  • Hazmat Classification: Regulated oxidizer — ground shipping only; not eligible for air shipment (no AK, HI, or international air)
Compatibility

Spa 56 is formulated for residential spas and hot tubs operating on a chlorine sanitizer program. Not compatible with biguanide sanitizers (Baqua Spa, SoftSoak) — chlorine and biguanide cannot be mixed.

  • Sanitizer programs: primary sanitizer for any chlorine-based program; also works as the shock/superchlorination treatment for bromine programs that need a chlorine kickstart
  • Not compatible with: biguanide sanitizers (Baqua Spa, SoftSoak) — these systems require their own dedicated shock product
  • Works alongside: ozone systems, mineral cartridges (silver/copper), and salt-generated chlorine systems (as a supplement when residual drops)
  • Spa shells: acrylic, vinyl, fiberglass, rotomolded plastic, stainless steel
  • Equipment: safe on heater elements, circulation pumps, jet bodies, and standard cartridge filters at recommended dosing
  • Companion products: pairs with the full Leisure Time Simple Spa Care line — Spa Up / Spa Down for pH, alkalinity increasers for buffering, Defender for scale, Metal Gon for fresh fills, Bright & Clear for clarity, and Renew as a chlorine-free alternative shock when bather return time matters
  • Brand fit: works in Hot Spring, Caldera, Sundance, Jacuzzi, American Whirlpool, Bullfrog, and every other residential spa brand
Warranty Policy

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.

Leisure Time® Brand FAQs

Can I use Leisure Time products in any brand of hot tub?

Yes. Leisure Time spa chemicals are formulated to work safely in every major brand of residential hot tub, including Hot Spring, Caldera, Sundance, Jacuzzi, American Whirlpool, Bullfrog, and others. They're also compatible with every common spa shell material — acrylic, vinyl, fiberglass, rotomolded plastic, and stainless steel.

Will Leisure Time chemicals work with my sanitizer system?

The Leisure Time line is built for universal sanitizer compatibility. Products work with chlorine, bromine, ozone, mineral cartridge systems (silver/copper), biguanide systems (Baqua Spa, SoftSoak), and salt-generated chlorine systems like the FreshWater Salt System. Specific product labels will note any exceptions.

Can I mix Leisure Time with pool chemicals or other spa brands?

We don't recommend it. Spa chemistry is sensitive, and mixing brands can lead to unpredictable interactions — cloudiness, foam, sanitizer interference, or staining. Leisure Time products are tested as a complete system; using them together gives you the most predictable results and the simplest weekly routine.

How long do Leisure Time products last in storage?

Most Leisure Time chemicals have a shelf life of 1 to 3 years when stored properly. Keep all spa chemicals in their original containers, sealed tightly, in a cool, dry, well-ventilated area away from direct sunlight, freezing temperatures, and other chemicals. Liquid products are most sensitive to temperature; granular products are more shelf-stable but should still be kept dry.

Are Leisure Time products safe for septic systems and drainage?

Yes — when spa water is properly diluted and drained according to local regulations, Leisure Time chemicals at residual levels are safe for typical municipal drainage. For homes on septic systems, drain spa water gradually over your lawn or landscape rather than dumping it all into the septic field at once. Always check local ordinances before draining.

How often do I need to drain and refill my spa when using Leisure Time?

Industry guidance is to drain and refill every 3 to 4 months for a typical 400-gallon residential spa, regardless of which chemical brand you use. Heavy use, lots of bathers, or high-temperature soaking can shorten that interval; light use can extend it. Regular use of Leisure Time clarifiers, filter care, and stain & scale products helps maintain water quality between fills, but no chemical regimen replaces a fresh refill on schedule.

About Leisure Time®

For more than 40 years, Leisure Time® has built spa-specific water care chemistry trusted by hot tub manufacturers, dealers, and homeowners across North America. Where pool chemicals are formulated for tens of thousands of gallons of cool, lightly used water, Leisure Time® products are engineered for the opposite extreme: small water volumes, sustained high temperatures, heavy bather loads, and powerful jet circulation. That combination puts dramatically more stress on water chemistry than a swimming pool ever sees, and it's why generic pool chemicals don't perform reliably in a spa.

The Leisure Time® line covers the complete water care picture — sanitization, water balance, clarity, stain and scale prevention, filter care, and spa surface care — and every product is designed to work together as part of the Simple Spa Care Program. That means no surprise interactions, no guesswork about what's compatible with what, and a predictable weekly routine that takes minutes instead of hours. The full Leisure Time® system works with chlorine, bromine, ozone, mineral cartridge, and biguanide sanitizing programs, and is safe for every common spa shell material.

Leisure Time® is manufactured in the USA and is one of the most widely recommended spa chemical brands in the industry — used by Hot Spring, Caldera, Sundance, Jacuzzi, American Whirlpool, Bullfrog, and many other major spa manufacturers as the dealer-recommended water care solution for their tubs.