First water change in new empty tank -- questions

[leafyseadragon]

I have been cycling my empty 37 gallon, 12 lbs LR, 31 lbs BR tank for five weeks now. The ammonia levels have subsided to zero, and I'll have to double-check the nitrates and nitrites tomorrow.

But assuming all levels have zeroed, I plan to do my first water change Friday before I start adding fish. My tank has been empty since the cycle, not even snails or hermit crabs. As a result, there is a nice brown carpet of diatoms on the surface of the sand, the rocks. Well, just about everywhere in the tank.

I am wondering what should I do about the diatoms. Should I use the powerhead as an underwater leaf-blower, stir up the diatoms and suck out as much of them as I can as I siphon out the water, or should I just leave it as it is? It looks unsightly to me, but I assume the animal life doesn't care.

 

[Michel]

You can take some out but introduce a cleaner crew of snails and hermits and they'll be happy like pigs in s....

 

[Guest]

I know this sounds cruel, but if the levels turn out to be 0's across the board, do a 25% water change and wait 1 more week. Test the levels and then if it is still 0, add a clean up crew... about 1 astrea snails and 10 blue leg hermits will clean up the diatoms. No need to siphon them out... after this, you should be ready to add a fish or 2. JMO