is it possible to be in the middle for the tank
High light, no Co2, plain 'ol sand, liquid fert?
Not really. Its all about balance. Too much light and something photosynthetic is going to grow. If you have good co2 and nutrients it will be plants. Low CO2 or insufficient nutrients and its going to be algae. Every tank is a little different, especially with low tech, but you get the idea.