Algae is beginning to appear on my Xmas Favia. How do I remove it?

[wartooth1]

Title pretty much says it all. What is the best way to remove the algae without harming the coral?
OR
Is/will the algae even harmful to the coral?
Here's a pic:

In case you can't see it, its the darker green patch near the "top" of the coral in the pic.

 

[flower]

I don't know much about that type of coral...but if it isn't light needy you can move it out of direct light...or maybe increase the water flow over it so algae can't settle on it. I know you can take a really soft toothbrush and gently scrub a gorgonian coral to remove algae, I don't know about favia.
Algae will choke it and kill it.

 

[snakeblitz33]

use a small toothrush and get the algae off, but even more important is to figure out what is causing your poor water quality problems.
If you can't combat it by removing excess nutrients from the system, then try more natural means such as snails, herbivorous fish and such.

 

[wartooth1]

Well I've tried everything and as a last resort I took it to one of my most frequented LFS (not the one I originally got the coral from, they went out of business) since they have a recovery tank for sick corals.
Anyway yesterday I went back to check on the coral and get some aquarium supplies... the coral looks awful. Its covered in green and red slime and now only a fraction of it looks alive.
Later today I'm going to discuss with them if there is any last resort solutions and if not I'm going to frag off the last remaining healthy bit and scrap the rest

 

[btldreef]

What did you try?
Probably best to frag if most is dead because algae LOVES dead coral

 

[wartooth1]

Quote:
Originally Posted by BTLDreef http:///t/391540/algae-is-beginning-to-appear-on-my-xmas-favia-how-do-i-remove-it#post_3479300
What did you try?
Probably best to frag if most is dead because algae LOVES dead coral
I tried various brands of dip plus I did couple of huge water changes and added phosphate remover plus the advise that was already given here before letting the folks at the shop try to revive it.
The weird thing was every single coral in my tank is thriving but this favia was unhappy since day 1.

 

[btldreef]

The favia might have just been infected with something since nothing else in the tank is having an issue. There may have been a dead or dying head that the algae just took advantage off. As I said, they like fresh dead coral skeleton.
Dips might have caused the coral more stress since most won't do much for algae on coral. I'd frag what's left

 

[reef3400]

I would pull from tank place in bucket with some of your water and use a turkey baster to blow the excess algae try to avoid using a brush unless its the sides or underside of the coral. favia will tear from its skeleton too easy.