46 gal. Planted Tank Stocking

[sadness child]

I will be making a 46 gal planted tank, and I was looking for stocking ideas.

Here is the plant list:
Vallisneria as a background
Pogostemon Stellatus Octopus to fill in empty space
Red Dwarf Aquarium Lily in the back corner to add color
Anubias Nana Petite for the front near the rocks
Anubias Bateri for cover and it is a broad leafed plant
Java Moss to cover the sticks with

All of this is going to be planted on the right third of the tank. There will be some sticks coming out of the plants, and going into the open water.
These are the sticks I will be using:

I have a couple stocking options of my own.

The first is:
8 Congo Tetras for top to medium water
20 Ember Teatras to swim through the plants
6 Hi-Fin Pepper Corydoras for the bottom

Second:
12 Zebra and Leopard Danios
Some schooling fish
6 Hi-Fin Pepper Corydoras

If you have not noticed, I like schooling fish. I would not mind having 1 centerpiece fish with schooling fish around it.

I would love any ideas, and Thank You in advance

 

[itiwhetu]

Go for it. It is your dream

 

[sadness child]

Go for it. It is your dream

I was just wondering which fish would be best for this type of scape.

 

[sadness child]

So, I have narrowed the big schooling fish down to three species:
Pearl Danio
Longfin Skirt Tetra
Congo Tetra

I know that I will be getting the 6 Hi-Fin Pepper Cories.

I am still looking for a fish species that will swim around/through the plants.

 

[sadness child]

I have decided against danios, so now I am basing my choices off of which fish are in stock when I get them.

But I am still looking for a fish to swim around the plants.

 

[sadness child]

Final stocking choices:
8 Congo Tetras
14 Silvertip Tetras
12 Black Phantom Tetras
6 Hi-Fin Pepper Corydoras

 

[Colin_T]

The black phantom and silvertip tetras will struggle to get food with adult congo tetras in the tank.

 

[sadness child]

The black phantom and silvertip tetras will struggle to get food with adult congo tetras in the tank.

Would you recommend a change in the stocking, or is there a way that I can get those fish food?

 

[PheonixKingZ]

I would change the stock. No sense in getting fish that you know will have to compete for food.

 

[sadness child]

So, instead of the Silvertips and Phantoms, what would you recommend? I was thinking about Ember tetras, but if feeding is an issue they may not be the best.

 

[PheonixKingZ]

Ember Tetras would be worse than the phantoms and silvertips, because they are smaller and easier to push around.

 

[Byron]

Congo Tetra are not small fish, and they like to swim actively. I don't know the length of this tank (a 46g) but if it is less than 48 inches (120 cm) the Congos would not be the best option. Diamond Tetras are very similar but half the TL.

 

[sadness child]

Do you guys think that I could replace the Congo Tetras with Pearl Danios?
I have successfully kept Pearl Danios with Black Phantom Tetras in the past.

 

[Byron]

Do you guys think that I could replace the Congo Tetras with Pearl Danios?
I have successfully kept Pearl Danios with Black Phantom Tetras in the past.

If by Pearl Danio you mean the species Danio albolineatus, yes that is fine. A group of 8-9 would be best. And minimum 12 Black Phantom obviously. Plus the cories, but increase them, the more the happier they will be.

 

[sadness child]

If by Pearl Danio you mean the species Danio albolineatus, yes that is fine. A group of 8-9 would be best. And minimum 12 Black Phantom obviously. Plus the cories, but increase them, the more the happier they will be.

Yes, I meant Danio albolineatus. How many cories would you increase it by?