A 15 gallon stocking question...

Spclk1981

Freshwater n00b
I am about ready to get my tank stocked, it's almost cycled. I was at .25ppm for Nitrites on Saturday, so I'd guess within the week it should get down to 0.

I will have 4 Africa Dwarf frogs in there. I plan on getting 2 ottos when I get algae forming in the future. I'd like 2 or 3 ghost shrimp (those don't create a large bio-load, do they?). I will be primarily stocking with Neons. I did just put in some low-light plants as well (Java Fern, Hornwort, etc). I hae about 8 different plants in there.

I planned on ~8 neons. Could I get away with 4 or so White Clouds as well? Should I just get the 8 neons and call it a day? Should I go for 10 neons and forget about White Clouds? From what I am told, the Africa Dwarfs aren't a big load on the system. I was also told that the Neons aren't too bad, they are considered to be 1" of fish apiece, and some even consider them more like 3/4". How bad are the white clouds and ottos?

Thanks in advance!
 
Is this a 15 tall? Same footprint as a 10, just taller? If so, stock about the same as for a 10, since you don't gain any surface area with the increased gallons. I'd stick with just 8 neons, the frogs and some shrimp--the oto's, maybe--but I'd rather control algae through nutrient control. The problem with pushing the limits of stocking arise not in every day issues, but rather when there's an emergency--a power outage, for example. A lightly stocked tank is unlikely to crash in a 2-3 hour power outage, but one that is close to overstocked probably will experience some problems.
 
Nope, it's a standard 15....12 deep, 12 high, 24 wide.

That's true, about the "emergency situations"...never thought of it that way.

I'm not sure if I'll need the otos, but I'd like to leave room for them, kind of a "just in case" thing. I'd rather plan for them and not need them than need/want them one day and not be able to.
 
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