Ideas for adding stock to existing tank

[uncpmatt]

Hey all, I know I've been a lurker and suddenly have posted 2 new threads in two days, but I've seen goo advice here, so I trust you...

Anyway, when I am done moving my ~50gal tank occupants into the new 60gal, a process which I plan to spread out over at least two weeks to make sure I don't have a tank crash in EITHER tank. Once everything gets settled, I would like to see about adding something else. Here is the current stock:

2 Angels, full grown
~5-6 Red Minor Serpea Tetras (hard to count due to heavy planting)
1 Synodontis Cat, ~7in long, stays at the bottom and leaves everyone else alone
1 Leopard Frog Pleco, ~2in

I've also got 2 juvenile clown loaches in a 10gal platy tank right now, taking care of a little snail problem . Once their mission is complete they will be moving into the new tank as well.

BTW, my tank now is overfiltered, with live plants, 2 HOB Penguins rated at ~30gph, and a Fluval 304 which is out of order but I will be taking apart and cleaning prior to moving it to the new tank. SO... overstocking a little bit won't hurt.

I've thought about a red tail shark, I just don't know if it will pester the angels. I probably will add ~5 more red minors, and have thought about a small school of harlequin rasboras... assuming of course I can't do the red tail shark. ANY additional suggestions are welcome, especially something unusual enough to add some flair to my tank.

Thanks!

EDIT: Just wanted to add that another Angel has been considered, but I hesitate because the two I have are mated and have made breeding attempts before. The female always comes back around and eats the eggs, though. SO... If a new Angel in the mix wouldn't cause problems, I'd consider it.

 

[icefreeze57]

IDK why your not considering the RTS but I really don't think you can fit more esp. if your putting your putting clown loaches into the tank... btw you are going to want like 3 more of those cause they school (and probably closer to 5 more)

 

[MonsterMinis]

Trust your instincts on a RTS.. some are fine, and some harass everyone in the tank. I would also say avoid another angel. more schoolers should be fine imo. Your syno is a likely culprit as to why your angels aren't spawning successfully ( which sounds like it isn't a big deal).. syno's are notoriouse egg eaters and may stress a breeding pair of anything to cani their own eggs vs letting the syno at them. Your fitration sounds fine as well. What are your plans for xfering your fish? If your just moving the fish and filters all onto the new tank it is a simple as that. just be sure not to xfer "freshly cleaned" filters when you do it. your BB colony in your filtration is the most important aspect of moving fish from one system to another. The BB load in your current set-up is use to the fish you have so will have lil' if any settling in period. Penguins can handle an impressive amount of bio-load ( I personally run nothing but penguins and emperors, and I do own an AC and hate it. Fluvals are better imo then marinelands for canisters, but for HOB's.. penguins and emps) I'm assumeing your runnig the dual wheels? or 350's? if so that should be more then ample. I run an emp 400 on my 40B and 56 both with large dirty fish.

 

[uncpmatt]

Yeah, I'm definitely not set up for breeding angels right now. I have an extra 10gal I use as a hospital tank when I need to, and I considered getting a sponge filter and using it to try and keep the babies alive... but I don't have anywhere to put it where my kids couldn't get it, and I'm pretty sure baby angels don't eat most of what my kids would put in there...

As for the RTS, I've never had one before and was thinking about trying it, but I don't want a bully in the tank that will harass the current residents. Maybe I'll just add more Red Minor Serpaes and some either some harlequins or cherry barbs... I'd like to try neons/cardinals but I know what the angels would do to them...