Sterile verses not too clean

[Paul B]

I don't know where I am exactly going with this post but I would like to know what people think. Since it is again summer (or almost) I have once again began putting "stuff" in my tank from local marshes that I probably shouldn't. Thats not the point. When I do this as I have been since the sixtees a wierd thing happens. The corals and especially the gorgonians look the best that they ever did. I could swear the dam things grew an inch in a few weeks. One gorgonian that I thought died and was in the back behind the rocks came back to life (most, not all of it)
The stuff I have been putting in is seaweed and other "stuff" that grows with it on docks in marina's in New York.
Now don't get crazy, I don't really put the stuff in my tank per say, I collect it and rinse it in clean tank water a few times because it is scuzzy looking stuff. Then I put it an a container with holes in it so the amphipods and other stuff can swim out. In a day I discard this stuff before it rots. My protein skimmer removes a couple of quarts during this process.
On the down side, between doing this and feeding a fat moorish Idol my tank seems to be suffering. Not health wise (I don't think) but it is a pain to remove the fine growth that covers any bare rocks (and in my tank bottles) It looks just like the stuff I see while diving in the Sound.
My reef was never sterile looking and has always been healthy, the fish live forever. I would just like to find out the substances that are in this stuff that are beneficial and remove the stuff that is not. I know the thousands of amphipods that I dump in there help but I can't see them helping with corals like torches, bubbles
and mushrooms. Of course I have to clean the thing much more than I really want to so it is the health of the inhabitants verses maintenance.
I know most people srtive for sterility in their reef and I have seen a lot of really nice healthy reefs out there, especially here on RC but I am curious if that sterility will hurt the health of the fauna over time. A couple of years do not really mean much, most animals will live that long no matter what you do, I am talking about the natural life span or corals which may live almost forever.
Just a thought.
Have a great day.
Paul
Here is that stuff I am talking about, loaded with amphipods