you could go with two or three rainbow cichlids. use wood and plants to give each one it's own little territory. small, good personality, and responsive to their food supplier.
they'll wander around the tank giving each other attitude.
a group of larger cories (about a dozen of one or two species) should handle their warning strikes fine and pack a fair bit of personality themselves.
add some small top/mid swimmers (bosemani rainbows, hatchetfish, golden wonder killi) and you've got an active, colorful, tank.
