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Dear all I am doing my thesis on this selected Marine species that haven't been identified. Literally I have no idea whether it is a Marine plant or invertebrate. There is no such related Marine Biologist or Marine Expert in our country whom I can seek assistance. So, I am desperately seeking your kind assistance to identify this species.

https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4286716/ I have been encouraged to keep some of my comments about biological filtration in one place. It allows for a much better platform for discussion without infringing on someone else’s post. While the above link deals with the complex overall picture of one part of what happens on a natural reef. Through complex food webs involving bacteria and algae, the reef feeds itself through “carbon fixation” in which dissolved carbon dioxide converts to carbonate & bicarbonate that when coupled with photosynthesis produces glucose, which is a carbon source. This link shows how carbon is transferred in a system between the primary and the secondary producers. I just found this link and will study on it more. In the “significance for a reef tank” section, at the conclusion, the author states, “DOM from coral is rich in proteins & lipids and DOM from algae is rich in carbohydrates. Algae DOM is essentially junk food.” I found that very interesting. It agrees with a thread on RC with Steve Tyree and my friend Timfish concerning cryptic sponges. Previously, my answer to algae DOC is to use GAC and prune macro (seaweed). Well, four months ago, I turned out the lights on my 25 year old 30G EcoSystem mud/macro refugium and seeded with cryptic sponges. It was already mature with pods, micro stars, feathers and worms. http://www.advancedaquarist.com/2017/9/aafeature With this article, Danna Riddle shows that the stony coral, Porites lobata increases photosynthesis of carbon with ammonia over nitrate required by other corals.. http://www.advancedaquarist.com/2017/2/aafeature The link below is the starting point of my discussion. It defines how carbon dioxide is utilized by coral building zooanthelia. I don’t agree with adding organic carbon to a reef tank and indirectly this article supports my conclusion, that organic carbon dosing in a reef tank fuels bacteria, which consume/transfer 60% of the energy in a reef tank through the “microbial loop”. After reading these articles, I consider using calcium reactors in all reef and macro tanks that I own and running UV sterilizer 24/7. I don’t use the sterilizer on my 25 year old tank. I do use sterilizer on everything else. http://www.advancedaquarist.com/2016/9/aafeature