Solid Mix of Fish?

[Kasendi]

I have a 55g tank that is almost done cycling. I am planning to stock it over the month of January. I have done research and I believe that I have picked out a good mix of fish, but would appreciate any and all insights that expereinced keepers may wish to share>
I am thinking of:

4 or 5 blood fins
3 or 4 cherry barbs (with 2 being male)
1 or 2 leopard corydoras
4 or 5 half-banded barbs (or the same nuber of rosy tetras)
4 or 5 ****** barbs

I want a tank with a lot of motion and natural behaviours. I would also like to see the fish schooling together. If there was room I would also like to consider:
1 or 2 Red tailed black sharks
3 or 4 harlequins.

I have desined the tank to have heavy plants in one corner, a rock shelter in the middle area and an open area on the opposite side. The bottom is covered with coral, and I have a few larger pieces of coral spread around. Doesthe tank design fit this type of fish? Which should i get first - and what order should follow?

I appreciate any input. Thanks

 

[ILOVEBETTAS]

If I were you, I'd fill the tank with cory catfish and angelfish. Probably 5 panda cory cats, 5 aeneus, 5 peppered, 2 emerald green cory cats and 2-3 angels. And maybe a discus. But that's just my opinion.

 

[Daudzegier]

the coral might affect the chemistry difrently than the barbs would like... cant remember what barbs like off the top of my head.... check that first. But, I would choose fewer species with more of them... 10-15 Cherry barbs, 5 corrys, 10-15 Blood fins, 10 or so half band barbs... ect. after you get your tank built up to those numbers....you still have enough room for a FEW more fish.... so you do have some room to play...

 

[Daudzegier]

OH OH OH, one more thing.... with all those barbs... you got a south east asian thing going.... a few gouramis wouldnt hurt....

 

[Daudzegier]

**** while your at it, do some research on the siam/indochina-burma biotopes... see what kind of substrates are there. I belive a course gravel with some sand, moderatly rocky with light colored granite and some plants... enough to break up the monotany of the rockyness.

 

[RoseFishWatcher]

I would remove the coral unless you tap water is pure acid. Coral buffers the water upward in pH - suitable for african rift lake setups, but not terribly much else. All the fish you listed would prefer slightly acidic water, so while it's almost certainly not worth altering your water to be "better", you shouldn't be buffering it away from their preference either

As for your stocking idea, it will probably work out fine. Personally, I like to make my "schools" as large as possible, so if it were me I'd make a school of 20 fish or so. Course, that would limit your room for other fish. That's really more a matter of personal preference though.

 

[Kasendi]

More Advice wanted.

Thanks for the tips about the coral, I have been doing pH tests and have managed to obtain a level of 7ish, but I will definatly look into the effect of coral on barbs and stuff.

If I were to replace the coral (it came with the tank) is the gravel from a walmartish store good? How much would I add (2 inches?).

Based on the responses I am now thinking:

2-3 Leopard Corydoras
6 or so half-banded Barbs
6 bloodfins
6 cherry barbs or harlequins
6 ****** barbs

Which should I add to the tank first?