The idea of aquariums as a microcosm is not new. However, the idea of managing them as little ecological systems has not always played out in our tanks. I think we spend too much time trying to siphon out the stuff we feel is detrimental to our tanks. The irony might be that our overzealous “maintenance” might be the detrimental factor! So often, what we deem as “trash” ( ie, detritus) might actually be “treasure” to our aquarium’s ecology!