AquaLife Ariana vs Grand Banks Hot Tub: Honest Comparison for Smart Buyers

The AquaLife Ariana is the lightest, most compact hardshell 6-person spa in the AquaLife lineup — 410 lbs, 74.5 inches square, 32 inches deep, with 30 jets and a single-pump system. The AquaLife Grand Banks is a full-therapy 5-6 person spa — 650 lbs, 85 inches square, 36 inches deep, with 81 jets, 120 hydro ports, and a 3-pump system.

• The Ariana weighs 410 lbs dry — 240 lbs lighter than the Grand Banks. It is one of the most accessible hardshell installations in the entire AquaLife range.
• The Grand Banks delivers 81 adjustable stainless steel jets across 120 hydro ports, powered by three pumps totaling over 11 BHP plus a 1 HP blower.
• The Ariana includes a built-in ice bucket with lid — a cold contrast therapy feature not present on the Grand Banks.
• The Grand Banks includes 2-tier entry steps, waterfall LED lighting, exterior cabinet lighting, and a tapered locking cover as standard.
• Both run on 240V and require a licensed electrician for hardwired installation.
• Choose the Ariana for a compact, lightweight hardshell entry point with an ice bucket feature. Choose the Grand Banks for serious multi-zone deep-tissue hydrotherapy with a full-featured 3-pump system.

AquaLife Ariana vs. Grand Banks: Side-by-Side Comparison

Who Is Each Hot Tub Built For? Seating and Capacity Explained

Both the Ariana and Grand Banks include a single full-body lounger plus bench seating for additional users. The core difference is not the seating configuration — it is the depth, the shell size, and the therapy power delivered to every seat.

The AquaLife Ariana seats 6 adults in a 74.5×74.5-inch shell at a depth of 32 inches. That 32-inch depth is 4 inches shallower than the Grand Banks — a meaningful difference for shorter users or anyone who prefers a seated soak without full shoulder submersion. The smaller footprint also means the Ariana fits into deck spaces and patios where a larger 85-inch spa would not. For households with limited outdoor square footage, the Ariana’s 74.5-inch profile is a practical advantage that many spa shoppers overlook.

The AquaLife Grand Banks seats 5 to 6 adults in an 85×85-inch shell at a depth of 36 inches. The additional depth means jets positioned at the shoulder, mid-back, lower back, and foot zones have more water column pressure working in their favor. The 36-inch depth is the standard premium depth in the AquaLife 6-person range and matches models like the Annapolis and Sutherland LS.

Choose the Ariana if:

• Your deck or patio space is under 80 inches in either direction
• You want the lightest hardshell hot tub installation possible — 410 lbs
• Shorter users or children will be soaking regularly and a 32-inch depth is more comfortable
• You want the ice bucket feature for cold contrast recovery alongside your hot soak

Choose the Grand Banks if:

• You want full 36-inch depth with maximum shoulder and lower-body submersion
• You want 81 jets and a 3-pump system for serious daily therapeutic coverage
• Your deck fits an 85-inch square footprint and is rated for ~4,300 lbs filled
• The LED waterfall ambiance and exterior cabinet lighting matter for your backyard setup

How Different Is the Therapy Experience?

The Ariana and the Grand Banks sit at opposite ends of the AquaLife 6-person therapy range. The Ariana delivers targeted single-pump hydrotherapy through 30 jets. The Grand Banks delivers high-intensity multi-zone deep-tissue therapy through 81 jets and three pumps simultaneously.

Ariana therapy profile:

• 1-pump system (5 BHP 2-speed) drives 30 stainless steel jets across 70 hydro streams
• Single-pump delivery means the pump cycles between high and low speed — effective for relaxation and maintenance therapy, well-suited to users without chronic pain conditions requiring nightly deep-tissue treatment
• The contoured lounger provides full-body alignment with ergonomic support for extended soaks
• 32-inch depth creates a naturally less pressurized soak — gentler on joints and more appropriate for sensitive users
• Factory-installed ozonator keeps water clean with minimal chemical intervention between uses

Grand Banks therapy profile:

• 3-pump system (5 BHP 2-speed + 5 BHP high-speed + 1 HP blower) generates sustained high-pressure output across all seating positions simultaneously
• 81 fully adjustable stainless steel jets across 120 hydro ports means every seat — lounger and bench — receives individually tunable pressure
• The 1 HP blower adds full-shell effervescence in addition to directed jet therapy — a two-layer therapeutic effect that envelops every user simultaneously
• LED-lit waterfall adds ambient sensory texture that enhances the relaxation response — not just a visual feature
• 36-inch depth allows jets positioned at shoulder and mid-back height to operate at optimal water column pressure

For users managing chronic lower back pain, post-workout muscle soreness, or regular joint inflammation, the Grand Banks’s 3-pump / 81-jet output delivers measurably more therapeutic pressure per square inch of body contact than the Ariana’s single-pump 30-jet system. For users seeking general relaxation, stress relief, and an accessible daily wind-down routine, the Ariana’s therapy output is fully adequate — and costs less to run per session.

The Ice Bucket Advantage: What the Ariana Has That the Grand Banks Does Not

The Ariana includes a built-in ice bucket with lid. This is a cold contrast therapy feature — and it changes how the spa can be used for physical recovery.

Cold contrast therapy is the practice of alternating between hot and cold exposure to improve circulation, accelerate muscle recovery, and reduce post-exercise inflammation. Athletes, runners, and active users have used this protocol in clinical and home settings for decades. The Ariana makes it accessible within a single spa session: soak in the heated water, reach for the ice bucket, apply cold directly to a joint or muscle group, return to the heat. No separate cold plunge required.

The Grand Banks does not include a built-in ice bucket. It compensates with a more powerful therapy system — 81 jets and 3 pumps deliver jet pressure that achieves some of the same inflammation-reducing circulatory benefits through hydrotherapy alone. But the Ariana’s built-in cold option adds a recovery dimension that the Grand Banks cannot replicate without a separate cold plunge purchase.

For households where one person regularly soaks after exercise, the Ariana’s ice bucket is a standout feature. For households focused purely on heat therapy and jet massage depth, the Grand Banks delivers more raw therapeutic output.

Size, Weight, and Installation: A Significant Difference

The Ariana is dramatically easier to install than the Grand Banks — 240 lbs lighter dry, 10.5 inches narrower on each side, and 4 inches shallower. Both require 240V hardwired power, but the Ariana opens up installation scenarios that the Grand Banks cannot fit.

The Ariana’s 410-lb dry weight is exceptional for a hardshell 6-person spa. Most hardshell spas in this capacity range weigh 600–900 lbs. At 410 lbs, the Ariana passes through standard backyard gates with far fewer logistics challenges, requires less structural reinforcement on deck surfaces, and can be positioned in spaces where a heavier 650-lb spa would require engineered support.

At approximately 3,100 lbs filled, the Ariana sits comfortably on most reinforced composite decking and concrete pads without requiring structural engineering review. The Grand Banks at approximately 4,300 lbs filled is in the range where deck structural confirmation becomes advisable — particularly for older wood-frame deck construction.

If your installation scenario involves any of the following — a narrow side gate, a second-floor deck, a roof terrace, or a lightly built patio surface — the Ariana’s weight and size profile may be the deciding factor, independent of jet count or therapy output.

Features and Extras: What Each Model Includes

The Grand Banks is the more fully-equipped model for ambient features — LED waterfall, exterior cabinet lighting, 2-tier entry steps, and a tapered locking cover. The Ariana counters with the ice bucket as its signature practical extra.

The Grand Banks’s 2-tier entry steps are a practical safety detail worth noting. Getting in and out of a 36-inch-deep spa without steps is a stability challenge — particularly for older users or anyone with limited knee or hip mobility. The Ariana at 32 inches is significantly easier to enter and exit without steps, which partially offsets the Grand Banks’s step advantage.

The Grand Banks’s tapered locking cover channels rain and debris away from the spa surface more effectively than a standard flat cover. In high-rainfall climates or regions with heavy seasonal leaf fall, a tapered cover meaningfully reduces the maintenance burden between soaks.

Daily Use and Lifestyle Fit

The Ariana is built for accessible daily relaxation — light footprint, gentler therapy, cold contrast recovery capability. The Grand Banks is built for serious daily hydrotherapy — maximum jet coverage, 3-pump pressure, full-body immersion at 36-inch depth.

Ariana — ideal daily routine:

• Light users, partners who take turns soaking, or households where the spa is used 4-5 times per week for general relaxation
• Active users who want post-exercise cold contrast therapy using the ice bucket followed by heated hydrotherapy
• Smaller outdoor spaces where the 74.5-inch footprint fits where no larger spa could
• First-time hardshell hot tub buyers who want quality construction without the weight and installation complexity of a larger model

Grand Banks — ideal daily routine:

• Users managing chronic back pain, arthritis, post-surgical rehabilitation, or regular athletic recovery who require intensive nightly jet therapy
• Households where 2 or more users soak simultaneously and everyone wants strong bench-seat jet coverage — not just the lounger user
• Buyers who want the LED waterfall, exterior lighting, and 2-tier steps as part of a polished backyard spa installation
• Users who have soaked in a single-pump spa before and know they want more therapeutic pressure

Which Spa Offers Better Value for Your Situation?

There is no universally better model. The Ariana and Grand Banks are correct for different household priorities. The decision is driven by your space, your recovery goals, and how you plan to use the spa every day.

Final Verdict: Ariana vs. Grand Banks

The Ariana and the Grand Banks answer two different questions. The Ariana answers: “What is the most accessible hardshell 6-person spa I can put on my deck today?” The Grand Banks answers: “What is the most complete therapy spa I can get in the 5-6 person range?”

The Ariana is the right spa when installation simplicity, compact footprint, light weight, and cold contrast recovery are your priorities. It delivers genuine hardshell hydrotherapy in a package that most decks can handle without structural review.

The Grand Banks is the right spa when therapeutic output is the deciding factor. Its 81-jet / 3-pump system, LED waterfall, exterior lighting, 2-tier entry steps, and 36-inch depth combine to create a full-featured backyard spa that daily users with real recovery needs will appreciate every single night.

Both the Ariana and Grand Banks are manufactured by AquaLife (Strong Spas) in Central Pennsylvania, USA. Both ship from Amazon.com with a 30-day return guarantee. Both include a factory-installed ozonator, 4kW stainless steel heater, UV-resistant cabinet, topside digital controls, and an insulated locking cover.

Shop both models at aqualifehottubs.com or visit the AquaLife Amazon Store for current pricing and fast delivery.