SC-1000 Scale & Metal Control

SC-1000 has become a favorite of pool builders, plasterers, and service professionals, and for good reason. SC-1000 is our award-winning, environmentally-friendly chelating agent that binds to metals and minerals. SC-1000 is great for pool startups (and is indeed essential to The Orenda Startup™ process). It is also used for ongoing maintenance to help prevent carbonate scale formation and metal oxidation/staining.

SC-1000 is one of the original Orenda Products and was originally used in industrial cooling towers and water treatment facilities.

SC-1000 contains no phosphates, unlike most metal control products available. This is meaningful because those same products (many of which are phosphate-based) would directly conflict with phosphate removal efforts…but SC-1000 does not.

When used as directed, SC-1000 controls metal staining and scale while being fully compatible with the materials of pool & spa construction and other treatment chemicals. It can also do wonders for removing existing scale in pool heaters, salt chlorine generators, and other equipment.

SC-1000′s formulation was awarded the Environmental Protection Agency’s Presidential Green Chemistry Award for its implementation of environment-friendly chemical technology.

SC-1000 vs. calcium issues

We commonly find confusion about what type of calcium deposits are actually in a pool. Is it carbonation? Calcium dust? Scale? Calcium crystals? While they are different calcium compounds, they are hard to tell apart. One way to think about it is this:

Scale (calcium carbonate) is formed when too much calcium is in solution in the water, and it falls out of solution and hardens on surfaces. It will be evident on the face of tile, inside pipes and heat exchangers, salt cells, etc. The hotter the water, the more likely scale will occur. It occurs due to an LSI violation of being above +0.30 on the LSI.
Calcite Crystals occur when not enough calcium is present in the water, and the water stays cold for a prolonged period of time. The water is aggressive because it is hungry for more calcium…it seeks equilibrium and wants to be properly saturated. It will extract calcium from wherever it can. The most available source? Plaster and grout. Crystallized calcium is usually some form of calcite that grows out of the plaster surface and hardens. We know of at least 4 different types of calcite crystals. SC-1000 can help soften some of the types, but not all. Unfortunately, some types of crystals require physically grinding them away.

SC-1000 is not a replacement for balancing your water. It also cannot reverse etching already done. Because of this, if you’re going to stray from the LSI safe zone, err to the high side, because carbonate scale is treatable. Etching, however, is permanent damage.

Procedures

View all Procedures

SC-1000 FAQ

SC-1000 Frequently Asked Questions

Using SC-1000 With The Orenda Startup Method

Plaster Dust, Carbonate Scale, and Calcium Crystals

How SC-1000 can help address these issues.

Add Calcium to the Pool Before It Is Full

Blue Moon Pools, a plaster applicator in San Diego, CA, was the first company to introduce Orenda to the idea of adding calcium to a pool as it was filling. This is video evidence from one of their own startups (filmed by Blue Moon Pools and used here by permission). They filled the spa with water and nothing else, following the traditional standard protocol. The Pool, however, using the same tap water, was filled using what is now known as The Orenda Startup™

More Orenda Products

PR-10,000 Phosphate Remover Concentrate

SC-1000 Scale and Metal Control

CV-600 Enzyme Water Cleaner

CV-700 Enzyme Water Cleaner + Phosphate Remover

CE-Clarifier Chitosan Clarifier + Enzyme

CE-SPA Spa Clarifier + Enzyme

SPA-500 Pre-Drain Spa Scrub

Hear what our customers are saying about us

Suzanne Rohan

“I just have to tell you that I am one happy customer! I have dealt with scaling for a year and now I have noticed when I brush the tile it is slowly coming off! AMAZING! I have asked numerous pool people about how to deal with scale, more people need to know about your products, THEY WORK. THANK YOU. Appreciate it again, you have no idea what I have had to deal with to get rid of scale the last year. (like a pool tile cleaning company that cost me 3500 in damage)“

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Carolyn Koss Kasten

“I found Orenda when I opened my 20-year-old pool to find a blizzard of crystals that had formed over the winter. We had never had this problem. Neither my pool company nor the local pool store had any idea what had caused it or what to do. I found Orenda online after researching crystals in pools and called their support. Eric recommended using SC-1000, giving detailed instructions about how to use and what other pool chemical levels I needed to adjust. Using their app and the product I was able to clear the problem within days. Their site also had great videos and instructions about how to maintain your pool. I am an Orenda customer for life!“

Kevin Conaway

Saint Joseph, Missouri

"Orenda chemicals and staff are the greatest. Talked with Eric last week, he made some recommendations to fix my pool that turned to a complete green pond. After 36 hrs my pool is crystal clear. Its amazing how much you can accomplish when you talk to and use the right products. I am absolutely sold on Orenda products. No more using those chain stores for advice. They led me down the wrong road to many times. Take my advice and start learning how to care for your pool the correct way!!!"

Rex Gibson

“I have a new pool and just learning how best to balance the water. Love the Orenda Academy and LSI app.“

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Silvia Taylor

Plano, Texas

“I replaster my pool in October, and the start up was not done correctly. I had no idea the process that needed to be followed after a new plaster. After so much research, I found Orenda YouTube channel where I'm learning about the the startup process and the basics of the water chemistry. I contacted Orenda Technologies and Jared came to my house to see my swimming pool at no charge. I have been taking advantage of the free training where they teach homeowners the basics of water chemistry to take care of the swimming pool. Did I tell you they have a free app? it is awesome!Thank you very much Eric and Jared!“

Dean Ouellette

Chandler, Arizona

“I’m a fan of the Orenda products and how they help me keep my pools beautiful. I’m also a huge fan of the free app. When I pitch a new pool I always tell the customer they can do it for free, here is an app. Then I go through each thing on the app and show how range chemistry doesn’t work. By the time I’m done with them they usually ask me when I can start. Thanks Harold, Eric and the rest of the crew.“

Reason Pack

“We got an inground pool last year for the first time that had been historically plagued with algae blooms. Thanks to the awesome learning resources and amazing personalized advice from Eric we've been able to keep our water algae-free and we often get compliments on how clear it looks and how nice the water feels. Best of all, their approach involves minimizing the use of unnecessary chemicals, and you'll actually understand when and why you are using them.“