Calling all Bullfrog Spa Owners

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Taylor1584

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LifeTime Supporter
May 13, 2011
343
NW Arkansas
Pool Size
12000
Surface
Plaster
Chlorine
Liquid Chlorine
SWG Type
Hayward Aqua Rite (T-15)
I am getting a hot tub for therapeutic reasons and am interested in hearing from owners of Bullfrog Spas, comments, suggestion, reviews etc., are welcome. This spa will be used by myself and 2 other family members. I am 5’2” and the tallest is well over 6’. My thinking was since the jet packs are moveable I don’t have to use the deeper seat and can still have my favorite jet packs in the shallower seats. A If taller company wants to move them they can, and then move back for me. Considering the A7 and A7L. I have read about some floating in the lounge so am a bit wary, especially being short I won’t be able to really anchor my feet.

Please enlighten me.

Thanks a bunch,

Christine
 
I don’t know about those particular models but being a shorty myself I recently learned there are stools available for some tubs (basically a booster seat for adults🤣).
When purchasing I made the choice against a lounger & molded seating & ended up with a round tub with basically 1 bench all the way around for fear of being drowned due to water displacement while soaking w/ my husband & was unaware they made such a thing!
 
Texas Splash said:
Trying to give this post a little bump :bump: for visibility. I'll also tag @RDspaguy to see if he has any experience with this product in his travels. Good luck with your shopping.
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I sure appreciate the bump. I see there are a few Bullfrog owners here, thought posting would be better than individually DMs. Being short and having the ability to put the favorite jetpacks in the short seats, but also to let others use them in the seats for taller folks is a real plus at least it seems so. I cannot find any to wet test or I would. The ease of moving them is a big question, in the water they won't be so heavy but I wonder just how difficult to actually connect correctly. Again thanks for the bump.
 
Mdragger88 said:
I don’t know about those particular models but being a shorty myself I recently learned there are stools available for some tubs (basically a booster seat for adults🤣).
When purchasing I made the choice against a lounger & molded seating & ended up with a round tub with basically 1 bench all the way around for fear of being drowned due to water displacement while soaking w/ my husband & was unaware they made such a thing!
Click to expand...
I had that mentioned to me at another dealer, different manufacturer, and thought good idea, but then spas are not cheap, and having to use a booster every single time in an expensive spa bugs me. I don't buy cars often but bought the one that when I want to get out of the car the seat automatically goes back and the steering wheel goes up so I can get out. Otherwise I am constantly pushing buttons. That eliminates alot of nice cars, but the convenience is crucial when running multiple errands. So this spa would be used daily, sometimes twice, and it needs to work for this old cranky lady. TFP method is simple and it works. I am taking care of an expensive item the pool and it just works based on sound science. The advice here is always helpful and educating. I always learn something new, even if I am never going to replace a salt cell myself I like knowing the information. I would never have known about the floating in the lounger if not for this forum and thought that looks nice. Would love to try one though; I probably would float.
 
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Jet packs are easy to move. They pop in and out, and they are not heavy, even out of the water.

I am 6'4" so I like the deeper seats, but in all honesty even the shallow ones are good too. The way my tub is sited, I like the view from the shallow ones better (that was the only way I could position the tub). Even in the deep seats I find the neck blaster pack too short. That is the one that has two extensions that stick out and have jets that shoot down onto your neck/shoulder. I have to slouch to fit under those jets. Not a lot, but I cannot sit up 100% straight. Everybody else in my family likes it just fine.

I believe an A7 or AL7 has two jet pumps standard. I don't like loungers myself, because I find I tend to get pushed out of them. With two jet pumps, that lounger is going to have power. My wife gets pushed out of the normal seats in our A6 with two jet pumps when running on high. You can throttle back the pressure on each jet pack as a whole (one control does all the jets - well the neck blaster has two controls, but most have one). I don't know how Bullfrog configures the jet controls in their loungers. Loungers are a matter of taste. I don't like them, but some people love them.

I would have gone with an A7, especially since adding the second pump to an A6 (it is an option on the 6, and standard on the 7) but I had to fit in into a space between two support columns and the 6 would just fit.

My friends just got an 8, but I havent had a chance to check it out yet.
 
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Taylor1584 said:
I am getting a hot tub for therapeutic reasons and am interested in hearing from owners of Bullfrog Spas, comments, suggestion, reviews etc., are welcome. This spa will be used by myself and 2 other family members. I am 5’2” and the tallest is well over 6’. My thinking was since the jet packs are moveable I don’t have to use the deeper seat and can still have my favorite jet packs in the shallower seats. A If taller company wants to move them they can, and then move back for me. Considering the A7 and A7L. I have read about some floating in the lounge so am a bit wary, especially being short I won’t be able to really anchor my feet.

Please enlighten me.

Thanks a bunch,

Christine
Click to expand...
We went thru the same debate - I'm 6'2", wife is 5'6", kiddo is about 4'. Love the moveable pack and different seat depths, makes it super easy for everyone to "get what they need" in a soak session. I've been known to swap packs mid soak...

Personally not a fan of loungers, I tend to float...
 
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phonedave said:
Jet packs are easy to move. They pop in and out, and they are not heavy, even out of the water.

I am 6'4" so I like the deeper seats, but in all honesty even the shallow ones are good too. The way my tub is sited, I like the view from the shallow ones better (that was the only way I could position the tub). Even in the deep seats I find the neck blaster pack too short. That is the one that has two extensions that stick out and have jets that shoot down onto your neck/shoulder. I have to slouch to fit under those jets. Not a lot, but I cannot sit up 100% straight. Everybody else in my family likes it just fine.

I believe an A7 or AL7 has two jet pumps standard. I don't like loungers myself, because I find I tend to get pushed out of them. With two jet pumps, that lounger is going to have power. My wife gets pushed out of the normal seats in our A6 with two jet pumps when running on high. You can throttle back the pressure on each jet pack as a whole (one control does all the jets - well the neck blaster has two controls, but most have one). I don't know how Bullfrog configures the jet controls in their loungers. Loungers are a matter of taste. I don't like them, but some people love them.

I would have gone with an A7, especially since adding the second pump to an A6 (it is an option on the 6, and standard on the 7) but I had to fit in into a space between two support columns and the 6 would just fit.

My friends just got an 8, but I havent had a chance to check it out yet
Click to expand...
Good to know that they are easy to move, Im kinda a weakling. Son in law is also tall like you, I will keep that in mind. I don't have space constraints and wanted to make sure everyone had their space if there are more than 4 in the spa. Thanks so much for the real life experience, especially as I cannot wet test. It's a leap of faith.
 
karmabiker said:
We went thru the same debate - I'm 6'2", wife is 5'6", kiddo is about 4'. Love the moveable pack and different seat depths, makes it super easy for everyone to "get what they need" in a soak session. I've been known to swap packs mid soak...

Personally not a fan of loungers, I tend to float...
Click to expand...
If you float, and at your height you can at least anchor your feet, I am sure I will float. Swapping packs mid soak, glad it's that simple and easy.
 
I intend to purge with Ah some, any tips for dealing with the packs? I read something about sealing. I want them purged inside and out. I have used Ah some for years in an indoor tub and makes keeping the tub clean easy, and I know it's clean.
 

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Taylor1584 said:
I intend to purge with Ah some, any tips for dealing with the packs? I read something about sealing. I want them purged inside and out. I have used Ah some for years in an indoor tub and makes keeping the tub clean easy, and I know it's clean.
Click to expand...
There is enough circulation that I would not do anything special for the packs. It's a genius solution...
 
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I have never owned or used a bullfrog. I have repaired a few over the years. They used to be known for breaking jetpack anchors, but I have heard they fixed that issue. Haven't seen a newer one to say myself.
All in all, they seem to be a decent tub. I would remove the jetpacks and clean behind them when changing the water at least. More often would not hurt.
My advice on spa selection is always the same, and hard to manage these days. Wet test. Sit in it and see how you like it. Try the different seats and jet arrangements. Find out if you'll float out or get blasted around. You're about to buy a 5 figure toy, make sure you like it, because you can't give it back.
 
We've had our A5L since 2019. My previous tub was a 2000's era Hotspring Jetsetter, which I had bought used from a family member and refurbished. We wet tested the Bullfrog tub at a local dealer, actually a larger version than what we ended up with. The jetpacks are a great idea and you can easily swap them around to suit your fancy. Once a week I top up the tub, run my weekly tests, and wipe down the water line with a microfiber cloth, including behind the jetpacks. The design does allow some water to circulate behind them, so it's not stagnate at least.

My view on seating and loungers... our bodies are pretty much neutral buoyancy in water. Whether you're sitting on a simple bench in a traditional wood staved hot tub or a reclined massaging lounger seat almost doesn't matter all that much. In all the tubs I've been in, what I do notice is how well lined up the jets are to my body, and is there something comfy to rest my head on and gaze up at the stars. That said, the lounger is my favorite spot in the tub.

In our A5L, the lounger does double-duty as a cool down seat. Sit with your back to the filters (there's a pillow there, too), and you're in a very shallow seat that is great to get your upper body out of the water and cool down a bit. I'm 5'10" find even the relatively shallow A5L adequate. Each seat in the tub is at a different height, so you just move around to what you like.

As far as build quality goes, I really like the Bullfrog compared to my previous Hotsprings tub. The Bullfrog's plastic frame and floor pan were important to me after dealing with rotting wood on the Hotsprings tub (maybe they've improved that). I also grew tired of the Hotsprings proprietary parts. That Bullfrog uses standard off-the-shelf parts is refreshing.

Although I tried the Bullfrog-supplied @ease chlorine cartridge system, I became disenchanted with it and went back to the tried-and-true TFP method for better results and significantly lower costs.

I purge my tub with Ahh-some with every water change. I pull the filters out, but leave the jet packs in. Dislodged gunk can accumulate at the water line behind the jetpacks, so just remember to wipe behind them as well.

Good luck!
 
Taylor1584 said:
Good to know that they are easy to move, Im kinda a weakling. Son in law is also tall like you, I will keep that in mind. I don't have space constraints and wanted to make sure everyone had their space if there are more than 4 in the spa. Thanks so much for the real life experience, especially as I cannot wet test. It's a leap of faith.
Click to expand...

Honestly, the act of removing the pack itself and replacing it takes more strength than moving it around does. Just read the direction and put your hands where they tell you to.
 
Taylor1584 said:
If you float, and at your height you can at least anchor your feet, I am sure I will float. Swapping packs mid soak, glad it's that simple and easy.
Click to expand...

My friends went with an 8 so they can "anchor" in the seats. The 8 has a raised portion in the center of the bottom that you can brace your feet against (I don't have this issue. I can easily reach the other side of my A6 with my feet)
 
RDspaguy said:
I have never owned or used a bullfrog. I have repaired a few over the years. They used to be known for breaking jetpack anchors, but I have heard they fixed that issue. Haven't seen a newer one to say myself.
All in all, they seem to be a decent tub. I would remove the jetpacks and clean behind them when changing the water at least. More often would not hurt.
My advice on spa selection is always the same, and hard to manage these days. Wet test. Sit in it and see how you like it. Try the different seats and jet arrangements. Find out if you'll float out or get blasted around. You're about to buy a 5 figure toy, make sure you like it, because you can't give it back.
Click to expand...

They do have some tiny holes on the backs of the packs to keep the water behind them moving. But I do the same thing you suggest. I "strip down" my tub on a water change. I take out all of the packs, the filters, the filter door, etc and it all gets scrubbed and hosed out separately, as does the now empty tub shell. I also pop out the packs and wipe behind them every so often because as you said "it can't hurt"
 
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Taylor1584 said:
I intend to purge with Ah some, any tips for dealing with the packs? I read something about sealing. I want them purged inside and out. I have used Ah some for years in an indoor tub and makes keeping the tub clean easy, and I know it's clean.
Click to expand...

Do your purge with the packs in (and open) and they will purge just fine. Then while your tub is draining, pop out the packs, turn them upside down, and stick a hose in the main port on the pack - that will flush them out. Then wipe them down, hose them off, and set them aside.

By the time you are done with the packs, your tub will have drained, and you can move on to wiping down your tub.

Fill the tub by sticking the hose in the filter intake (so you don't airlock your pumps) and when it gets up to the level of the seats, put your packs back in.
 
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phonedave said:
My friends went with an 8 so they can "anchor" in the seats. The 8 has a raised portion in the center of the bottom that you can brace your feet against (I don't have this issue. I can easily reach the other side of my A6 with my feet)
Click to expand...
My A8 has this and I dig it. I need to loose some LBs so I dont float as well.... ;)
 
RDspaguy said:
I have never owned or used a bullfrog. I have repaired a few over the years. They used to be known for breaking jetpack anchors, but I have heard they fixed that issue. Haven't seen a newer one to say myself.
All in all, they seem to be a decent tub. I would remove the jetpacks and clean behind them when changing the water at least. More often would not hurt.
My advice on spa selection is always the same, and hard to manage these days. Wet test. Sit in it and see how you like it. Try the different seats and jet arrangements. Find out if you'll float out or get blasted around. You're about to buy a 5 figure toy, make sure you like it, because you can't give it back.
Click to expand...
I would wet test a Bullfrog but cannot find a place that has them to wet test. I did test out some others and the problem that came up is some of the best massagers are in the very deepest seats so nothing hits in the right spot. Hence, the Bullfrog.
 

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