Community Tank

[Talon242]

Currently I have 2 ottos, 2 pearl gouramis, a blue acara, ghost shrimp, and a mystery snail all in a 50 gal tank. There are so many different fish I would like to keep but its so hard choosing. I was thinking of adding another acara, maybe 6 diamond tetras and 5 cories. Would my tank be overstocked at this point? If not would 2 angels (or maybe instead a few smaller cichlids like 2 keyholes or 2 kribs) be ok to add also? Just want to make sure they will not be over croweded or tempted to eat eachother. Sorry for all the questions, I still have lots of learning to do.

Edit: Oh yeah its a planted tank also, dunno if any of them will eat plants or uproot them.

 

[Fruitbat]

I would be wary of adding another Acara to the tank, especially since it is a planted one. If you happen to end up with two males then you're likely to see some fighting....and if you happen to end up with a male and a female then you're likely to see some breeding, which Blue Acaras do in typical cichlid fashion: 1) staking out a territory and defending it against all comers and 2) re-arranging the aquarium decor to suit their needs.

You can definitely get away with adding the tetras....maybe even a bigger 'school' than you are considering now....and the Corydoras won't be a problem either. What might be REALLY pretty would be (instead of Diamond Tetras) something like a school of Bleeding Heart Tetras. They look absolutely glorious in a planted aquarium and get enough size to them that the gouramis won't cause them any difficulty.

 

[Menagerie]

I would not add another acara--my male fights with the male zebra often. Luckily the tank is big enough for them to go to their separate corners :?
I like Fruitbat's idea of a larger school of colorful tetras--that will be nice! Also, I love cories and highly recommend them to anyone who has room for them.

 

[Talon242]

I don't think I will add another acara. When I was looking on fishprofiles.com for the bleeding hearts they said "Temperament: Peaceful. Good for community tanks with small to meduim fish - No Cichlids." I think I might get a bristolnose pleco also becuase my team of 6 ottos has kind of fallen into a two man team right now, with one being treated in qt right now. But that may be a while since I would also need a piece of bogwood.

So I would be up to 2Pearl gourami, 1acara, 2 ottos, a larger school of tetra (8-12), 5-7 panda cories, bristolnose pleco

Instead of another acara would I be able to get either 2 keyholes or 2 angels or 2 kribs? Or would something else be better?