I think it's understood it might be workable in terms of bioload and space when they're small fish but that won't take long to change. Imo the am I overstocked question is tricky, unless it's obvious and egregious. People have different criteria or aesthetics for stocking tanks, which can be all over the map. Everyone won't agree with what I like or what has worked for me-- and what looks or sounds to me like too many fish in a tank has definitely changed. My preferences have moved toward fewer fish in a tank vs years ago, to me it just looks better, easier to maintain, a little closer to natural for most types of fish, etc, but I've also maxed the potential of a few tanks in my time.
So to me there's not one cosmic formula for everyone or all types of fish, some of it you have to figure out for yourself or learn from experience. Anyway, philosophy aside, potential problems are: Red tailed sharks get a decent size and ime they like to pester less aggressive fish as they get some size, while some become downright belligerent. The loaches you know about, eventually even one is too much for a 55. You might see better, more natural behavior (closer to schooling) from the tetras in larger groups per species. (rainbows like to be in groups also, but I've kept them as one or two in a peaceful tank and they did fine). With the rams and acara, how well they get along will depend some on the individual fish and how the tank is scaped. When I had them, a lot of plants worked for me keeping multiples of rams, apistos, and small acara happy and peaceful in a 75 gal SA community tank.
So to me there's not one cosmic formula for everyone or all types of fish, some of it you have to figure out for yourself or learn from experience. Anyway, philosophy aside, potential problems are: Red tailed sharks get a decent size and ime they like to pester less aggressive fish as they get some size, while some become downright belligerent. The loaches you know about, eventually even one is too much for a 55. You might see better, more natural behavior (closer to schooling) from the tetras in larger groups per species. (rainbows like to be in groups also, but I've kept them as one or two in a peaceful tank and they did fine). With the rams and acara, how well they get along will depend some on the individual fish and how the tank is scaped. When I had them, a lot of plants worked for me keeping multiples of rams, apistos, and small acara happy and peaceful in a 75 gal SA community tank.
