Brown and bleaching montipora

[thiagoetto]

Not having much luck with my green montipora.
It is on the top of the hardscape, highest flow possible and high light intense (HD aqua illumination).

At first it started to bleach so I replace it into the bottom. Then it started to brown.

Now I replaced again (top but on the side). It is bleached in some areas and brown in others. Despite of that, I can see polyp extension and growth on the base.

What should I do to enhance coloration (already doing a 10% water change every Saturday).

 

[hyprc]

I think the first question would be what are your no3 and po4 levels?

 

[thiagoetto]

I think the first question would be what are your no3 and po4 levels?

Nitrate is bellow 2 ppm now. Not testing for phosphate (though no algae bloom on the hardscape).
Trying to keep NO3 and PO4 as low as possible with weekly 10% water changes.

 

[hyprc]

Nitrate is bellow 2 ppm now. Not testing for phosphate (though no algae bloom on the hardscape).
Trying to keep NO3 and PO4 as low as possible with weekly 10% water changes.

You need to test po4, friend. I recommend Salifert kits if they are accessible to you.

Just as an example, I thought my tiny amount of feeding once every 3 days along with weekly 15% water changes was good enough but once I tested po4 it was steadily rising week after week despite my regime.

 

[Pdash]

Nitrate is bellow 2 ppm now. Not testing for phosphate (though no algae bloom on the hardscape).
Trying to keep NO3 and PO4 as low as possible with weekly 10% water changes.

Probably your problem.