How does this stocking look?

[lilacamy931]

So I have a 55g planted tank with mopani and sand substrate. I have blips cycling but thanks to the forum advice think we are mostly there now. Also has a bubbler.

I have my puffs arriving tomorrow which will be the jewels in my tank but want to build some movement in there with them.

How does this stocking look?

2 schoutedeni puffers (my shining gems)
1 zebra pleco (I just really love these and want one for visuals, way down then line was going to get a snub-nosed as cheaper and non-breeding).
4 guppy - (just really taken with the males, I have 2 bright yellow tuxedos and want to find some blue grass, cobras or galaxies)
18 cardinals - these are stunning fish and wouldn't mind as big a shoal I can get away with. Currently have 2, unfortunately the 3rd did not make the stressful journey home and were the last at the LFS. Aware need to get more ASAP to make these guys happy however due to puffs arriving tomorrow didn't want to overstretch bioload and also test how the puffs do with the 4 fish in there.
6 endler - again just really taken with these guys as eye popping and thought they would some interest.

This is an eventual goal, water parameters permitting was going to add about 3-4 fish every week or 2 weeks.

For the eventual full stocking, I will need to upgrade my filter for a bigger turn over from my Fluval 306, according to adaquvisor I would be 100% stocked but under filtered.

 

[Gourami Swami]

I would say that bioload-wise you should be fine with that stock. My concern would be whether the puffers were aggressive to the small fish. Schoutedeni are supposed to be less nippy than most puffers, but each fish is an individual and yours may decide they like biting neons in half.
I would say get the puffers and start adding other fish as you are planning, and see how it goes.

 

[TwoHedWlf]

It's very nice of you to provide 28 feeder fish for the puffers. I think the zebra might be ok, but the rest of them are likely to be nipped at the very least. The guppies/endlers definitely.

 

[lilacamy931]

I've heard and seen schoutedenis getting on very well in communities. Understandably puffs are very much individual personalities, so once they are here I will plan to see how they fair with the current tankmates and naturally will adapt depending what personalities I end up with (especially as they are youngsters currently and could change as they mature). This is looking at ideal stocking and gradual introduction

Of course if the puffs don't take to other fish and they needs to be species only so be it.

Guppies - I have umm'd and ahh'd due to the tempting tail so will see how the current two go and remove if witness nipping.

Endlers - never had them, they are on the small side, are these much slower than tetras?

I might end up passing on the livebearers and build the cardinals or have a pair of zebras.