The Proven Solution for Calcium Scale and Metal Stains
Say goodbye to calcium build-up, cloudy water, and stubborn metal stains for good.
Viva Blu Phosphonate HEDP is a professional-grade pool treatment designed to dissolve calcium scale, prevent future deposits, and remove ugly metal stains from your pool surfaces and equipment.
If you’re dealing with:
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White, chalky calcium deposits on tiles, heaters, or filters
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Brown or green metal stains caused by iron or copper
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Cloudy or rough pool surfaces from hard water
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Ongoing scale build-up despite regular maintenance
Then Viva Blu Phosphonate HEDP is the definitive fix.
Unlike typical acid cleaners that only strip the surface, our phosphonate formula breaks down mineral bonds at the molecular level, lifting existing scale and binding metals to stop stains from forming again. The result is a smooth, clear, and balanced pool. without surface damage or harsh side effects.
Why Pool Owners Trust Viva Blu Phosphonate HEDP
Removes existing calcium scale from tiles, pipes, and filters
Prevents future scale build-up, ideal for hard-water regions
Lifts and sequesters metal stains (iron, copper, manganese)
Improves filtration efficiency and extends equipment life
Safe for all pool surfaces: concrete, vinyl, and fibreglass
Compatible with salt chlorinators and other sanitising systems
How to Use Viva Blu Phosphonate HEDP
| Application | Dosage (per 10,000 L) | Treatment Steps |
|---|---|---|
| Scale Removal | 100-150 mL | Adjust pH to 7.2-7.4. Add near return jets. Brush affected areas. Run filtration 24-48 hrs. |
| Scale Prevention | 20-30 mL weekly | Maintain routine dosing to stop build-up before it starts. |
| Metal Stain Removal | 100 mL | Lower pH to 7.0. Add evenly. Brush stains. Filter 48 hrs. |
| Metal Sequestration | 30 mL weekly | Add after filling or when new metals enter the pool water. |
Safety & Handling
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Always wear gloves and eye protection.
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Never mix with chlorine or oxidisers.
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Store in a cool, shaded location.
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Maintain calcium hardness between 200-400 mg/L for best results.
Restore Your Pool’s Sparkle Fast
With Viva Blu Phosphonate HEDP, calcium scale and metal stains are no longer a persistent battle.
Use it once, and you’ll see why professionals across Australia rely on Viva Blu for crystal-clear water and spotless surfaces.
Technical Reference
Technical Specifications
| Property | Detail |
|---|---|
| Chemical name | 1-Hydroxyethylidene-1,1-diphosphonic acid (HEDP) |
| IUPAC name | (1-hydroxyethylidene)bis(phosphonic acid) |
| Common names | HEDP; Etidronic acid; 1-Hydroxyethane-1,1-diphosphonic acid; Phosphonate scale inhibitor |
| Molecular formula | C₂H₈O₇P₂ |
| CAS number | 2809-21-4 |
| Concentration / Grade | Approximately 15–20% w/w HEDP active in aqueous solution (pool/commercial treatment grade) |
| Physical state | Liquid |
| Appearance | Clear to slightly yellow aqueous solution, essentially odourless |
| Density | Approximately 1.10–1.15 g/mL at 20°C |
| pH (as supplied) | 1.5–2.5 (neat solution); acidic — handle accordingly |
| Solubility | Miscible with water in all proportions |
| UN number | UN 1760 (Corrosive liquid, n.o.s.) |
| ADG Class | Class 8 — Corrosive substances; Packing Group III |
Applications & Use Cases
- Dissolution and prevention of calcium carbonate (limescale) deposits on pool tiles, waterline surfaces, heat exchanger surfaces, and pool equipment
- Removal and inhibition of calcium phosphate and calcium sulphate scale in recirculating pool and spa systems
- Chelation and sequestration of dissolved iron (Fe²⁺/Fe³⁺) and copper (Cu²⁺) to prevent metal staining on pool surfaces and fittings
- Treatment and prevention of brown, orange, and green metal stains on plaster, fibreglass, vinyl liner, and tiled pool surfaces
- Scale inhibition in pool heat pumps, solar heating panels, and gas/electric pool heaters
- Preventive dosing in hard water regions of Queensland, New South Wales, South Australia, and Western Australia where calcium hardness commonly exceeds 400 mg/L
- Ongoing maintenance dosing to keep calcium hardness in the acceptable range (200–400 mg/L as CaCO₃) without excessive precipitation
- Commercial and public swimming pool water balance management in compliance with SPASA industry guidelines
- Spa and hydrotherapy pool scale control, particularly in high-temperature water (above 28°C) where calcium carbonate solubility decreases
- Pre-treatment of pool water prior to the addition of calcium hypochlorite or other calcium-bearing sanitisers
Dosing Rates & Guidelines
| Application | Minimum Effective Dose | Maximum Recommended Dose | Units | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Preventive / maintenance dosing — residential pool | 30 | 50 | mL per 50,000 L pool volume, weekly | Dose with pump running; add directly to skimmer or pre-dilute 1:10 in a bucket of pool water before broad-casting. Maintain pH 7.2–7.6. |
| Preventive / maintenance dosing — commercial / public pool | 0.6 | 1.0 | mL/m³ (equivalent to mg/L), weekly | Dose via chemical dosing pump into return line. Confirm HEDP residual at 1–2 mg/L. Monitor phosphate levels if combined with other phosphate-based products. |
| Active scale removal — established calcium deposits | 100 | 200 | mL per 50,000 L pool volume, as a single shock dose | Lower pool pH to 7.0–7.2 prior to dosing to enhance acid dissolution of existing scale. Run filtration continuously for 48–72 hours. Backwash filter after treatment. Retest water balance. |
| Metal stain treatment (iron / copper) | 150 | 250 | mL per 50,000 L pool volume | Add in the evening with pump running. Do not add chlorine for 24–48 hours after treatment to avoid oxidising chelated metals back to staining form. Vacuum pool to waste after 48 hours if precipitate observed. |
| Spa and hydrotherapy pools | 5 | 10 | mL per 1,000 L spa volume, weekly | High water temperatures (32–40°C) accelerate scale formation; dose at the upper end of range. Drain and refill spas every 3 months to control total dissolved solids. |
| Heat exchanger / heater protection | 0.8 | 1.5 | mL/m³ of total system volume, fortnightly | Maintain continuous HEDP residual of 1–3 mg/L in recirculating water to protect heat transfer surfaces. Verify with HEDP test kit or send water sample to accredited laboratory. |
Note: Dosing rates are indicative and based on standard Australian pool industry practice. Site-specific water chemistry — including calcium hardness, total alkalinity, pH, temperature, and bather load — will influence actual requirements. Always conduct a full water analysis prior to treatment and consult your pool professional for high-calcium or high-iron water situations.
Dilution Instructions
- Read the SDS first. Ensure you understand the hazards before handling. Viva Blu Phosphonate HEDP is an acidic corrosive liquid (pH 1.5–2.5 neat). Appropriate PPE must be worn before opening the container — see Safety & Handling below.
- Prepare your equipment. Use a clean, chemical-resistant bucket or container (polyethylene or polypropylene). Do not use metal containers. Measure the required dose using a dedicated chemical measuring jug — never share measuring equipment between different pool chemicals.
- Pre-dilution (recommended for all residential applications). Add the measured dose of Viva Blu Phosphonate HEDP to approximately 9 parts of pool water (e.g., 100 mL of product into 900 mL of pool water) to produce a working dilution of approximately 1:10. Always add the chemical to the water — not the water to the chemical — to control heat of dilution and minimise splashing.
- Do not mix with other pool chemicals. Never pre-mix or combine this product with chlorine compounds, oxidisers, or other pool chemicals in the same container, even in diluted form. Each chemical must be dosed separately into the pool.
- Dose with filtration running. Broadcast the diluted solution evenly around the pool perimeter or add slowly into the skimmer box with the pump operating at full flow. This ensures rapid distribution and prevents localised high-concentration contact with pool surfaces or fittings.
- For commercial dosing pump applications. Dilute product to a working concentration of 5–10% v/v in clean water before connecting to a peristaltic or diaphragm dosing pump. Use only chemical-resistant tubing (PTFE, Viton, or polypropylene). Calibrate the pump to achieve the target dose rate as specified in the table above.
- Allow contact time. For active scale removal treatments, allow at least 48–72 hours of continuous filtration before retesting water chemistry or repeating the dose.
- Rinse equipment. After use, rinse all measuring equipment thoroughly with clean water and store separately from other pool chemicals.
Chemical Compatibility
Compatible With
- Pool water at normal operating pH (7.0–7.8)
- Polyethylene, polypropylene, PVC, and PTFE containers and pipework
- Fibreglass, vinyl, marblesheen/pebblecrete, and ceramic tile pool surfaces at recommended doses
- Stainless steel 316 fittings under normal dilute conditions (avoid prolonged contact with neat product)
- Standard pool filter media (sand, glass, cartridge) — no adverse effect at recommended doses
- Cyanuric acid (stabiliser), sodium bicarbonate, and calcium chloride when dosed separately with adequate mixing time between additions
Incompatible With — Do NOT Mix
- Chlorine-based sanitisers (sodium hypochlorite, calcium hypochlorite, trichloroisocyanuric acid): Direct mixing will cause decomposition of the phosphonate molecule, generate heat, and may release corrosive fumes. Dose these chemicals separately with at least 30 minutes between additions and pump running.
- Oxidising agents (potassium monopersulphate, hydrogen peroxide, sodium persulphate): Strong oxidisers will degrade HEDP, rendering it ineffective and potentially generating hazardous by-products.
- Concentrated acids (hydrochloric acid, sulphuric acid, muriatic acid): Do not mix in concentrated form. pH adjustment with acid should be completed and the pool allowed to circulate before adding HEDP.
- Concentrated alkalis (sodium hydroxide, soda ash at high concentrations): High pH conditions (above 9.0) reduce HEDP chelation efficiency and may cause precipitation of calcium-HEDP complexes.
- Copper sulphate algaecides: HEDP will chelate free copper, reducing algaecide effectiveness. Dose these products separately and allow 48 hours between treatments.
- Metal containers (iron, galvanised steel, aluminium): The neat acidic product will corrode these materials, contaminating the product and potentially releasing hydrogen gas.
- Cationic polymers and certain flocculants: May form insoluble complexes, reducing effectiveness of both products. Consult your Viva Blu representative before combining treatments.
Safety & Handling
Personal Protective Equipment (PPE)
- Gloves: Nitrile rubber (minimum 0.38 mm thickness) or neoprene gloves. PVC gloves are acceptable for brief contact; not recommended for prolonged handling. Inspect gloves for defects before each use.
- Eye and face protection: Chemical splash goggles (AS/NZS 1337.1 compliant) are mandatory when handling the neat product or making dilutions. A full face shield is recommended for decanting or when handling volumes greater than 1 litre.
- Body protection: Chemical-resistant apron (polyethylene or PVC-coated). Long-sleeved clothing should be worn underneath. Avoid open-toed footwear.
- Respiratory protection: Not generally required for small-scale outdoor pool use with adequate natural ventilation. For indoor pools, enclosed spaces, or bulk handling exceeding 20 litres, use a half-face respirator fitted with an acid gas/organic vapour cartridge (AS/NZS 1715/1716 compliant).
Storage Requirements
- Store in original, tightly sealed polyethylene containers in a cool, dry, well-ventilated area away from direct sunlight.
- Recommended storage temperature: 5°C to 35°C. Avoid freezing — product may become viscous but is recoverable upon warming. Do not store in direct sun or near heat sources above 40°C.
- Segregate from oxidising agents, chlorine-based pool chemicals, concentrated acids, and concentrated alkalis in accordance with the ADG Code storage segregation requirements.
- Store on a bunded spill containment pallet capable of holding 110% of the largest container volume.
- Keep away from food, animal feed, and drinking water supplies.
- Shelf life: 24 months from date of manufacture when stored correctly in sealed original containers.
ADG Transport Classification
- UN number: UN 1760
- Proper shipping name: Corrosive liquid, n.o.s. (1-Hydroxyethylidene-1,1-diphosphonic acid)
- ADG Class: 8 — Corrosive substances
- Packing Group: III
- Hazchem code: 2X
- Transport must comply with the current edition of the Australian Dangerous Goods Code (ADG Code). The 5 L consumer pack may qualify for limited quantity (LQ) exemptions — confirm with your transport provider.
First Aid Measures
- Eye contact: Immediately irrigate with large volumes of clean, flowing water for a minimum of 15 minutes, holding eyelids open. Seek immediate medical attention. Do not attempt to neutralise.</li




