Artesian Spas · TidalFit Swim Spas

Artesian Spas TidalFit Active EP-12

12′ long
No swim current
One temperature
4 seats

Artesian Spas TidalFit Active EP-12 swim spa from above, showing the lane and seats

Photography © Artesian Spas, shown for identification

Price on request

No manufacturer pays us. How we make money

Updated September 2026By the HotTubFinder research desk

Room to swim. The lane, and the current you swim against.

How tall are you?

Outside of the cabinet: 12′
Open water to swim in: Not published
You, arms overhead: 7′

The maker doesn't publish the open water on the Active EP-12. Seats, steps and the current housing take their share of the 12′, so ask the dealer for it.

No swim current
Artesian Spas lists no swim jets on this model. It's a large spa for soaking and exercise, not for laps.
How currents compare →
One zone, one temperature
Lap swimmers like 78 to 82°F and a hot tub runs 100 to 104, so you pick a compromise or change the setting and wait.
Is dual temperature worth it →

What it costs. To buy, and to keep warm.

The swim spa: Price on requestGet the price range →
Keeping it warm: About $22 a month with the cover on, from its California listing. More in a cold climate and when you swim a lot.
On top: A concrete pad, a dedicated circuit, delivery and sometimes a crane. What those cost

Energy detail

Cost to leave it on

California listing

Watts it draws just holding temperature with the cover on, as filed with the state of California.

0 WLimit 466 W

This model: 163 W
Median of 21 exercise spas its size: 351 W
California’s limit for its volume: 466 W · this model uses 35%
At that rate for a year: About 1,430 kWh
Filed as: Active EP-12 · listed 2021 · cover 45-1107-XX

Also filed as Active EP-12 - 16 Jet Hydrotherapy System (278 W), Active EP-12 Semi-Inground (263 W).

Source California Energy Commission appliance database ↗What decides running cost →

What owners say. About Artesian Spas swim spas.

What they like

Owners like the swim workout
A seven-year Artesian owner (review dated November 2025, model not named) says they still swim year-round and the spa looks new, and two 2018 reviewers praise the TidalFit's swimming features and workout. One PissedConsumer reviewer (2020) is "generally pleased" apart from the filters. All but the last appear on a reviews page Artesian curates.
The factory stepped in when a dealer didn't
The owner of an L-shaped Dual Temp (review dated August 2023) says the unit arrived damaged and missing parts and the dealer stalled for close to two years, until an Artesian employee outside customer support took the case, ordered parts and found a technician. Shown on Artesian's own reviews page.

What they complain about

Small filters clog and shut the heater down
A 2020 owner says the filters are too small for the water volume and need cleaning every week. A 2023 commenter agrees that dirty filters stop the flow and trigger a "heater may be dry" error, and a 2018 owner of a 14-foot inground model describes repeated heater-dry shutdowns until the dealer blamed an overly dense circulation filter.
The earlier variable-flow swim system failed
A 2018 owner of a semi-inground Premium EP-14 with the Swift Water system reports the swim jets, Wi-Fi and Bluetooth failing within days, the head unit, electrical unit and both swim pumps replaced, then a leaking coupler seal and a dead recirculation pump, with the factory saying it had no fix yet. That system is now discontinued.

Everything owners report about Artesian Spas

How it’s built. In plain words.

Warranty: Lifetime structure warranty. Longer than the 10-year median across the 161 swim spas that publish one. First owner only.
Frame and shellPartly: Artesian says its spas use a pressure-treated lumber frame on a full ABS base; TidalFit adds full foam and a fiberglass structure behind the acrylic. Why it matters
Getting at the equipmentPartly: Ordinary pumps and jets, but full foam, dealer-only parts and no stated clearance. Why it matters
Cover and lifterPartly: A vinyl cover is included; the lighter fabric cover and any lifter cost extra. Why it matters

These findings cover the Artesian Spas swim spa line; each names the models it applies to.

The details

Every specification46 figures, each linked to where we read it

Outside size: 12′ × 7′ 7″; 45" tall
Open swim length: Not published; Ask the dealer
Current: None; No swim jets listed
Swim pumps: None
Water: 1,195 gal
Weight: 1,750 lb; Empty
Electrical: 240V / 50A; One circuit · 60A recommended
Seats: 4; One temperature

Size

Length: 144" (12′)
Width: 91" (7′ 7″)
Height: 45"
Open swim length: Not published
Water depth: Not published

Zones and seating

Dual zone: No
Dual temperature: No
Seats: 4

Water and weight

Water capacity: 1,195 gal
Dry weight: 1,750 lb
Filled weight: Not published

Therapy jets

Jets: 16
Therapy pumps: 1
Therapy pump power (continuous): 3 HP
Therapy pump power (brake): 6 HP

Heat and water care

Heater: 5.5 kW
Circulation pump: Yes
Filters: 2
Controls: spaTouch Topside
App or Wi-Fi: Optional

Electrical

Voltage: 240 V
Minimum breaker: 50 A
Recommended breaker: 60 A
Circuits needed: 1
Total amperage: 50 A

Construction

Shell: Acrylic
Shell backing: Fiberglass vessel below the exposed material finish
Frame: Wood
Base: ABS pan
Insulation: Full foam
Built in: Las Vegas, Nevada, USA

Cover and extras

Cover included: Yes
Cover: Vinyl Covers

Doesn’t have: cover lifter.

Electrical notes · Owner's manual table (North America 60 Hz): "1 or 2 Pumps" 240 VAC, 37 A maximum current…

Owner's manual table (North America 60 Hz): "1 or 2 Pumps" 240 VAC, 37 A maximum current, 4 wires, 50 A GFCI; "2 or 3 Pumps" 240 VAC, 48 A maximum current, 4 wires, 60 A GFCI. The manual opens by saying TidalFits are preset for a 48 A maximum input that requires 240 V, 60 A Class A GFCI protected service, and it requires a Siemens 60 A GFCI breaker for variable-speed TidalFits. Hard-wired, dedicated circuit, 6 or 8 AWG copper depending on GFCI size, no aluminum wire. With its optional hydrotherapy pump plus the circulation pump it falls in the manual's "1 or 2 Pumps" row (50 A GFCI, 37 A maximum current). Confirm the breaker with the dealer. Artesian's general FAQ (all spas) says 50 A or 60 A GFCI with a 4-wire hookup; the dealer gives the exact breaker size.

Where Artesian Spas’s own figures disagree (1) · cover

Artesian Spas’s own documents give two answers. Check yours against the quote before you sign.

Cover

Vinyl Covers

artesianspas.com ↗

All Seasons Shield Covers

artesianspas.com ↗

Where these figures come from (4 Artesian Spas documents)

Artesian Spas on the ten things we checkCurrent, room, frame, site, running cost, service, warranty and more

Ten things that decide whether a swim spa works for you and lasts, answered for Artesian Spas’s swim spas. Tap any for the detail.

Swim currentA jet current, usually four 6-inch jets on two 3 HP pumps, with variable speed as…Partly

TidalFit pushes water with jets, not a propeller: the Quad Swim Jet System uses four 6-inch jets and two 6.0 BHP (3.0 HP continuous) single-speed pumps "with speed control", and the optional True Variable Speed System swaps in variable-speed pumps with 16 settings. On four of the five single-zone models the swim system itself is an option, and the fifth, the entry Active EP-12, has no current at all. Artesian publishes no current width, air content or flow test, so hold your hand across the current on a running display.

Applies to: All nine current TidalFit models; the Active EP-12 has no swim current.

What this means, and how to check it →artesianspas.com ↗artesianspas.com ↗

Room to swimArtesian doesn't publish this. Ask the dealerNot published

Artesian prints only outside cabinet sizes, 144 to 180 in. long on the single-zone models and a nominal 13- or 14-foot exercise pool on the Dual Temp models, plus cabinet heights of 45 to 60 in.; it never gives the open swim length or the water depth. The seatless Core Swimmer comes closest to a clear lane, while the bench options on the EP-14 and ActivePlus EP-12 put seats along both sides. Lie out in a display and ask how deep the water will sit.

Applies to: All nine models.

What this means, and how to check it →artesianspas.com ↗artesianspas.com ↗

Frame and shellArtesian says its spas use a pressure-treated lumber frame on a full ABS base…Partly

Artesian says its spas are framed in pressure-treated lumber on a full ABS base and filled with foam, and the TidalFit warranty defines the lifetime-warranted structure as the fiberglass vessel behind the acrylic. That frame statement is brand-wide, and no lumber size, laminate thickness or TidalFit frame drawing is published. The Dual Temp models are two separate vessels, each on its own frame, latched together on site.

Applies to: All nine models (frame statement is brand-wide).

What this means, and how to check it →artesianspas.com ↗artesianspas.com ↗

Site prepA 6-inch reinforced slab is preferred, Dual Temp models need two circuits, and no…Partly

The TidalFit manual asks for at least 6 inches of concrete, cured 72 hours and reinforced with rebar or mesh, though it also accepts compacted level ground or a reinforced deck. Single-zone models run on one 240 V circuit with a 50 or 60 A GFCI, and every Dual Temp needs two separate supplies (60 A for the swim side plus 50 or 60 A for the hot tub). Artesian publishes no filled weight, so get it from the dealer before anyone designs a deck.

Applies to: All nine models.

What this means, and how to check it →artesianspas.com ↗artesianspas.com ↗

Running costFull foam on every model; California standby runs from 35% to 99% of the limitPartly

Every TidalFit is fully foamed on an ABS bottom. California's listings under the plain model names put the single-zone models between 35% (Active EP-12) and 99% (ActivePlus EP-12) of their standby limit, 75% at the median across all 51 rated TidalFit exercise listings, and the Dual Temp hot tub sides at 74% to 96%. Artesian lists no heat pump or chiller for TidalFit, and all but one of its semi-inground listings carry the same standby watts as the above-ground versions.

Applies to: All nine models (no California listing for DTL-6).

What this means, and how to check it →cacertappliances.energy.ca.gov ↗artesianspas.com ↗

Dual zoneFour Dual Temp models pair a swim spa with a separate hot tub, each with its own…Yes

The DT-19, DT-21, DTL-6 and DTL-8 are two separate vessels, a 13- or 14-foot swim spa and a 6- or 8-foot hot tub, each with its own 5.5 kW heater, pumps and topside, latched together in line or in an L. There is no shared divider wall between the two waters, though no maker publishes how much heat crosses either design, and the L-shape fits corners a one-piece spa can't. The cost is two sets of equipment, two electrical supplies and a caulked seam where the cabinets meet.

Applies to: DT-19, DT-21, DTL-6, DTL-8 (the five single-zone models are one temperature).

What this means, and how to check it →artesianspas.com ↗artesianspas.com ↗

Service accessOrdinary pumps and jets, but full foam, dealer-only parts and no stated clearancePartly

The swim system is plain pumps and jets with no hydraulic drive to overhaul, and the manual asks for room so equipment panels are never blocked, though it gives no distance. Plumbing sits in full foam, Artesian sells parts only through dealers, and its warranty won't pay for cranes, removal or access, or for damage from moving a recessed or blocked-in spa. An independent parts store lists TidalFit control boxes at $1,286 and the variable-speed pump at $1,586.

Applies to: All nine models.

What this means, and how to check it →artesianspas.com ↗artesianspas.com ↗

Warranty termsLifetime structure, 7-year surface, 5 years parts and labor; first owner only, and…Partly

The TidalFit card covers water loss from a structural defect for life, the surface for 7 years, equipment and plumbing for 5 with labor, and the cabinet for 2. Travel, cranes, removal, reinstallation and one-way freight to the factory are the owner's, the clock can start 18 months after manufacture, and coverage ends if the spa is sold. Repairs by anyone but an authorized agent void it.

Applies to: All nine models (Dual Temp card has the same terms).

What this means, and how to check it →artesianspas.com ↗artesianspas.com ↗

Cover and lifterA vinyl cover is included; the lighter fabric cover and any lifter cost extraPartly

Every TidalFit comes with a vinyl cover with tie-down straps and corner locks, but Artesian doesn't publish its thickness, taper, foam density or panel count. The All Seasons Shield cover, a polyester fabric Artesian says won't absorb water and weighs less, and manual or hydraulic lifters are options, and no lifter is listed for the Dual Temp models at all. The cover skin has a 1-year warranty from the cover maker, and Artesian's own manual puts cover life at 3 to 4 years without careful care.

Applies to: All nine models.

What this means, and how to check it →artesianspas.com ↗artesianspas.com ↗

Service and originBuilt in Las Vegas from domestic and imported parts; parts and warranty service…Partly

Artesian builds every TidalFit at its Las Vegas plant "using a blend of domestic and imported components" and says its spas reach 60 countries through 300 dealers. Parts and warranty work go only through that dealer network, and repairs by anyone else void the warranty, so the local dealer's service matters more than the brand. The owner complaints we found split between product faults (filters too small, the discontinued Swift Water system) and slow or unhelpful dealer service.

Applies to: All nine models.

What this means, and how to check it →artesianspas.com ↗artesianspas.com ↗

What Artesian Spas says about itEach claim, what the documents show, and any catch

What Artesian Spas leads with, where it covers the Active EP-12, and what the documents show.

Common, done wellLifetime structure, 5 years parts and laborEvery TidalFit carries a lifetime structure warranty, 7 years on the surface, 5 years on parts, labor, plumbing and electrical, and…First owner only, and cranes, removal and freight are yours

What they sayEvery TidalFit carries a lifetime structure warranty, 7 years on the surface, 5 years on parts, labor, plumbing and electrical, and 2 years on the cabinet ("Warranty without worry").

What the documents showFive years of parts and labor is solid coverage for the pumps and heaters that actually fail. The lifetime line only promises the vessel won't lose water from a structural defect, and the costly parts of a structural claim fall on the owner.

Who else does itLong structure terms are common (PDC gives 35 years on TruSwim, Master Spas 10 on H2X Trainer and Challenger); five years of parts with labor on the equipment is better than many swim spa cards; PDC's TruSwim includes 3 years of labor.

The catch

First owner only, and cranes, removal and freight are yours. The warranty ends when the spa changes hands, can start 18 months after manufacture if delivery is late, and never covers travel charges. If the structure fails, the owner pays one-way freight to the factory and every cost of removal, cranes and reinstallation; repairs by anyone but an authorized agent void it.

CommonMade in Las VegasEvery TidalFit is built at Artesian's own factory in Las Vegas by a maker with 30 years in the industry, and sold in more than 60…

What they sayEvery TidalFit is built at Artesian's own factory in Las Vegas by a maker with 30 years in the industry, and sold in more than 60 countries.

What the documents showThe single Las Vegas plant is real and documented. "Made in USA" here is Artesian's own qualified claim, since it says its spas use a blend of domestic and imported components, and the plant has built sister brand Marquis too since 2023 under private-equity ownership.

Who else does itMost big swim spa brands build in North America: Master Spas in Indiana, PDC in Pennsylvania, Bullfrog in Utah, Hydropool in Ontario.

Common, done well'The most versatile' swim spa lineupArtesian says TidalFit offers "the most versatile combinations of lengths, orientations, swim systems, and therapy configurations"…Check the quote includes a swim system

What they sayArtesian says TidalFit offers "the most versatile combinations of lengths, orientations, swim systems, and therapy configurations": 12 to 21 feet, three swim systems, hydrotherapy packages, twin benches, and in-line or L-shaped Dual Temps.

What the documents showThe range is real, nine models from a 12-foot exercise pool to a 21-foot Dual Temp. But the flexibility cuts both ways: on four of the five single-zone models the swim system is itself an option, and the fifth, the entry Active EP-12, has no swim current at all.

Who else does itConfigurable jet and seating packages are common; the L-shaped Dual Temp and a seatless Core Swimmer in the same line are less so.

The catch

Check the quote includes a swim system. The 2026 brochure lists only a 0.6 BHP circulation pump as standard on the Core Swimmer, Premium EP-14, Pro EP-15 and ActivePlus EP-12, with the Dual, Quad or variable-speed swim jets as options, and offers no swim system on the Active EP-12. A low starting price may be for a pool with no current.

WarrantyLifetime structure · 5 yr equipment · 5 yr labor

Years of cover as Artesian Spas publishes them. Who pays labor, travel and removal matters as much as the years, so read the card before you sign.

Structure: Lifetime
Shell surface: 7 years
Equipment: 5 years
Plumbing: 5 years
Cabinet: 2 years
Labor: 5 years
Transferable: No

What the card saysStarts at delivery or 18 months after manufacture, whichever comes first, and a replacement shell or spa does not restart it.

Starts at delivery or 18 months after manufacture, whichever comes first, and a replacement shell or spa does not restart it. Artesian does not pay for removal, installation, cranes, construction or any access costs, and a failed structure returns to the factory with one-way freight paid by the owner; if the spa is replaced instead, removing the old one and delivering and installing the new one are the owner's cost. Travel charges are never covered. Void if anyone other than an authorized agent of May Manufacturing repairs it, or with alterations or non-approved parts; excludes commercial use, freeze damage, damage from an unlevel or unsupported foundation, clogged filters, not using a hard cover, and water kept outside 32-110 F. Damage from moving a recessed or blocked-in spa is not covered. Cover skin 1 year from the cover maker, ozonator 1 year, stereo 30 days parts and labor then 1 year parts, no warranty on lighting.

Read Artesian Spas’s warranty document ↗