New, hardscape-only tank: need main school fish suggestions...

Columbian Tetras. The only Tetra I've ever managed to breed and raise some of the fry of in a community setting. They have the right shape, the right size, are peaceful and really pretty in good conditions.
 
If you have Neons, why not try for the Red Phantom. IMO-- they like water on the cooler side (like neons) in the 72 degrees range. 20+ of each with some corys would be a stunner in that size tank.
 
Kurious said:
Taari, the wood is Northern Catalpa. I'm in IL and that's a common hardwood flowering tree. I was walking the dog through a neighborhood parkway and found 2 dead branches on the ground. They looked like they would fit perfectly into my tank and after soaking it for 3 weeks, I set them in after a few minutes of testing arrangements. Went to a local commercial builder/landscaper and picked up 9 pieces of black rock off his gravel parking lot. When I went to pay he laughed at me and said "take it"! I REALLY lucked out and make no claim to tank design. Just tried to emulate some things I've seen on forums like this.
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You lucky SOB!

You could add some more neons and a colony of shrimp. The dark atmosphere would almost gurantee a bright shrimp either it be red cherry or yellow.
 
Yeah, I know it's kind of a dark setup. I thought white pool filter sand would be too 'white hot' looking, so being on a budget, went for the Black Beauty sand. Plus most agree that tetras like dark substrate, etc. I may have to try a lighter gray background - that might help brighten things up a bit. That's why the Diamond tetra, drape-fin barb and even white ornate tetras appealed to me more than the red serpaes, red/black phantoms, etc. I'm thinking the silver or white fish would really pop. I've had neons and/or cardinals ever since I was a teenager so I think it's time to move on...

It surprises me how big the tank looks in the photo. I'm hoping if I end up getting some Diamonds that they won't somehow make the tank look small in relation. The biggest fish I've ever had was a lace Angel and it was my centerpiece fish, so anything over 1.5" seems big to me :) Some have said Diamonds don't really grow to 2.5", but more like 2". There's a nice LFS not far from me that always has some young ones. I've not seen Ornate Tetras there, but maybe they could order. I'm considering getting some zebra nerites or cherry shrimp. I've never had shrimp but know they're reproduce like crazy if they're happy, whereas the nerites can't breed in freshwater. This is my low-maintenance tank so still figuring out what I want to do. Thanks to everyone for the continuing suggestions!! Keep 'em coming please!
 
. . . or these, hemigrammus Ulreyi the broken Line Tetra. I had these once years ago and they are my favorite tetra - here's a link with a u-tube video embedded:

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[TD="width: 55%"]http://www.theaquaticlibrary.co.uk/profile/index.php?id=959[/TD]
 
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