Now that I'm closer to adding water I wanted to ask about two issues I had the first time around, and which I'd like to avoid or minimize. When I first set up the tank I had a bloom of diatoms AND of algae. I know both are very common in new tanks and related (diatoms are algae, after all).
I know diatoms are expected on a tank with a sand substrate because of the silicates leached into the water by the sand. I also know they will go away on their own once the silicates are depleted. However, the first time I did this I had diatoms not just on the glass, but also on the sand itself. I wiped them off the glass but could never get rid of the ones on the sand. It made the sand look dirty, and they never went away.
I also had an algae bloom. This was annoying, but not as bad: my otos eventually ate all of it (but for some reason never touched the diatoms). I mention it because I know both issues are probably related.
Any suggestions to minimize the diatoms or control them in any way? I would hate for the sand to get discolored again. Here are some thoughts I've had, i'd love any feedback or suggestions:
1.- know there are products such as Seachem phosguard that are supposed to remove silicates. Any downside or thoughts about using something like that at the start, to get rid of whatever silicates are leashed by the sand? Can it affect cycling or plants? I would remove it after a while.
2.- I know plants can help with both issues, and this will be a planted tank. I'm wondering if it's better to plant from the start, with EI dosing and good light so the plants outcompete algae and diatoms, or if it's better not to plant so I can keep the light off. Would having plants prevent me from using something like Seachem phosguard?
3.- last time I had some otos in the tank (o. Vitatus). They ate all the algae, but would not touch the diatoms. Any thoughts about good algae eaters for both issues? perhaps a specific type of oto? I also heard a couple of black mollies might be good for this? I would strongly prefer to avoid snails. I know many people have them, I just don't like them. Having said that, if the consensus is that snails are the only way to keep the sand clean, I might consider a single nerite snail (because they do not reproduce in freshwater so I would avoid a snail invasion). Regardless, whatever algae eater I use, I can't add them until after the tank is cycled, so I need a way to control both issues during cycling. By the time I added the otos to my tank last time, both problems had been present for a while.
Any suggestions?
Edit: my stocking is undecided but will consist of a group of cories (such as habrosus, or schultzei or venezuelanus...) and perhaps 3 other groups of small fish. Candidates include tetras (red phantoms, diamonds, green fires...) or other similar small community fish
