Stocking a 180 gallon

[Deepdive]

Dear people,

I started a new 180 gallon or so project. The tank has been cycled and fish seem healthy. But im wondering how to finish my project, cichlids have some different stories behind them.

I currently have:

5 cory sterbai
2 apistogramma cacatuoides
2 Trichopodus trichopterus goerami
2 Trichogaster chuna Goerami
3 Bristlenoe plecos
5 five stripe barbels - Desmopuntius pentazona (more peaceful)
Some of the brown kuhli loach

So im looking for a finisher (and maybe a shoal) and cichlids always look cool. I was advised stuff like Ellioti, but hearing different stories about them.

The bottom is already filled enough. So more something that would go in the middle or top.

 

[Andy Sager]

If you have the right water parameters, what about a school of Rainbowfish or larger Rasbora species? These will be middle to top dwellers.

 

[Deepdive]

If you have the right water parameters, what about a school of Rainbowfish or larger Rasbora species? These will be middle to top dwellers.

Yeah, but want to decide on a centerpiece first and not get overstocked. Which is a fear of mine. I would like a middle size cichlid or the smallest type of angel. Then see if the shoal can fit with it. These are nice but might fill up the tank. Although middle /top isnt full

 

[Andy Sager]

Yeah, but want to decide on a centerpiece first and not get overstocked. Which is a fear of mine. I would like a middle size cichlid or the smallest type of angel. Then see if the shoal can fit with it. These are nice but might fill up the tank. Although middle /top isnt full

Personally, a single fish as a centerpiece can often be a problem and if you are thinking cichlid, even more docile ones, most stay towards the bottom which you have a lot of fish already there. A " Centerpiece " aquarium is a style I'm not all that fond of TBH. Something to think about: A balanced tank where there are fish at the top, middle and bottom, is a more attractive tank because there are fish everywhere you look and they usually will get along better than fish all on one level.