Every element on our planet that is used to sustain life is recycled. We would not exist without microbes breaking down complex organic compounds to recycle the resulting inorganic nutrients. Most people are oblivious to the fundamental regulatory role viruses play in these cycles. Indeed, most people revile viruses. However, the role of viruses in global nutrient cycling aligns with their bacterial hosts. Together, bacteria and viruses are partners in degrading organic matter to regenerate inorganic nutrients such as CO2, nitrogen and phosphorus. Monitoring DOC concentration in freshwater ecosystems without quantifying the turnover, a common practice, tells us nothing about the inputs of freshwater DOC or how much DOC has been respired. The bacterial viral relationship is like a furnace burning DOC dissolved organic carbon and concomitantly emitting carbon dioxide through respiration. Poor bacterial growth efficiencies coupled to viral lysis of their bacterial host ensures that nutrient cycles are closed. Together, bacteria under virus regulation ensures that the organisms responsible for primary production have sufficient inorganic nutrients available to them in the Open Oceans, in freshwater and on the land so life can go on. This chapter describes the viral-bacterial relationship with dissolved organic carbon that is so important to life.