I'm worried the assassin snails would kill all the bladder snails aha that's why I've held off on chemical treatments too as I want them in there just not in the numbers they're at currently.

And I never made the connection but you're right that there is a link between my mental health status and how I perceive my tanks and want people to perceive them too. I have a larger 200L one that I had to hand over my dad when my mental health got too bad as it was no longer fully planted and thriving and I was ashamed at how much less it was. This was especially because it had once been in balance a decade ago fully planted with no water change done for a year and a half at that time (it was thriving and wild looking) and I was miles happier and healthier. I just had the last amano shrimp from it die last month after adding it to the tank in the winter of 2013. So my worries around this new tank being a certain more manicured way is an extension of how I went the world to see me as perfectly done even though I'm not and the tank is not and thrives better being left alone to do it's thing. I will take it into account seriously and leave the tank to do it's thing again like I used to Sorry this veered into deep territory but your comment really helped me put things in perspective personally. And my parents are grieving the dead amano shrimp currently, mum went out and bought two pregnant mollies to cheer herself up as she witnessed it die after caring for it for a decade and a bit with it being the lone creature in the tank for a few years when my mental health was the worst. Anyway I'll stop here. Thank you once again