need some ideas on stocking please

[shakel00]

new tank is 48L x 18W x 27H. filtration will be fluval fx5.

ideally i want a larger fish, with distinctive colour/pattern.
prefer something that wont dig in the substrate, it really bugs me and i think it would drive me mad, unless there would be an easy way to stop them (rocks instead of gravel etc)
i dont mind if its predatory or not.
either 1 or 2 larger fish, or a school of something a little smaller but would have to be really outstanding to look at,nothing too small (less than say 5-6" full grown).
something active during the day that wont hide until lights out.

some fish i really like are-
oscars
frontosa
datnoid
clown loach
jack dempsey
archer fish

cant think of anymore right now. i live in a fairly hard water area, my ph is 7.5-8.0.

 

[shakel00]

also, would be interested in some sort of oddball not often seen, a nice talking point

 

[matthewbrian316]

how about some datnoids? or some amia calva... giant gourami .... uhhhmmm or a tigrinus cat? ) and and some fire eels to that too lolz and lastly maybe a mono peacock bass

 

[shakel00]

the giant gourami and the catfish will both outgrow my tank, the datnoids i cant make up my mind on, not sure on tank mates, i know i can buy dats from near me so they are very tempting, im not sure about the bass, i cant seem to find any sizes and care guides on them.

 

[L021]

I don't quite know how many gallons that is, but here are some potential "cookie cutters". This would be for around 100 gallons.

x8 Clown Loaches
x3 Tiger Datnoids

OR

Pair of Oscars

OR

x2 Jack Dempsey
x1 Oscar

 

[shakel00]

im in the UK and its 85 gallons here, i think its just over 100 gallons in the US, 380L.

if i had oscars, wouldnt they dig up all the substrate? its the only reason im put off them, i have always wanted a pair.

 

[KAWAMIKIE]

African cichlids is my first thought and you can throw in a few fronts.

I was going to do my 75 that way. But I picked up a free fin nipping D. Lususo (sp) that I had to move it in there to keep it from killing my gar and giant gourami.