Would this combination work?

[FermezLaBouche]

YESSS! I have finally purchased a second hand tank - an Aquaone 165 litres with stand for £70 off Gumtree (please tell me this is a good bargain!) I know about the importance of cycling so I know there is no hurry to decide, but I'm trying to work out what to put in it. What do you think of this combination?
2/3 Angel fish
Shoal of approx 10 neons
5/6 peppered corys

I know Angels can be bastards, but I think they would be ok as neons and coreys tend to keep to themselves, don;t they? Also, the tank is taller, rather than longer, which I thought would suit the angels.

Any ideas much appreciated.

Angels need a lot of height, at least 18 inches. Does the tank have this? Also, they should be kept in groups of 6 or more or as a proven pair. If you decide to keep them with neons, you must get the angels as juveniles so they grow up with the neons otherwise they will end up on their menu.

Maybe stick to something a little simpler, like 10 neons, 6 cories and then as centrepiece fish a pair of either of them:
Bolivian rams
Gouramis (maybe pearl)
Kribensis
Apistogramma

I know several people that have mixed angels and neons and the neons have ended up as lunch! Angel fish are predatory so will eat anything small enough. Agree that a pair of small gouramis (make sure you get a male and a female) or a pair of smaller cichlids would be a better choice.

Peppered corys tend to prefer cooler water, what do you think of panda corys instead?

Thanks for the comments!

The tank is 20 inches tall so height wouldn't be an issue for angels. The chap in the shop was saying they would be ok in a 49 litre tank I was looking at but I was a bit at that. This one's off Gumtree, much better bargain. Disappointed to learn angels need to be kept in groups of 6 or more as I really wanted to keep them. I would defo not have room for 6 in the tank, would I?

Out of the ones you've listed I've only kept Gouramis and had problems with their aggression, so will research the others now.

Eau Rouge, I've never kept Panda Corys but they are very cute too. Would definitely keep them if they're better suited.

Siiiiiiiiiiiiiigh! Back to the drawing board! :)

Ha ha, yes never listen to what a fish shop tells you, good that you listened to your instinct. I wouldn't go for angels as they can be aggressive, so yes re-considering your options is good.

Bolivian rams are very peaceful and lovely to watch. As they are smaller compared to angels, you could up the numbers on neons and / or cories and possibly add something else to it. Maybe 1 bristlenose pleco (warning they are poop machines) or a group of otos at a later point as they need established tanks with algae to much on.

49 litres?! Clearly he's never seen a fully grown angel fish. Better take everything he says with a pinch of salt

When you kept gouramis before, how many did you have and what sort? They are normally only aggressive towards other gouarmis and bettas although some species can be touchier than others.

I had 3x 3 spots in a 300 litre tank - I think one of them was just a nutcase to be honest! And yes he was only aggressive to the other gouramis, never to other fish. Odd as I had to temporarily house a male betta in there and there was no problems there.

Also, anyone ever kept Golden Panchax (sp?) I saw those today and they looked really unique. Those Bolivian rams are very pretty actually as well!

Definite yes to a bristlenose, too. Love them :)

ooooh and also in the middle of the shop they had a big 7 foot or so tank with 2 amazing stingrays and the BIGGEST arowana you have ever seen, he was amazing! :) Could have stayed all day!

Never had golden panchax so can't help with them, sorry.

If you want one little less common as a pleco, I can highly recommend getting a L134. I just got one and he is too cute. And they only grow up to 4.4 inches, so nice and small. L181 would also work well in your tank. They cost a little more than bristlenoses, but considering they live so long it will be worth it.

If you decide to go for rams, make sure you give them a cave or something like a coconut to spawn in/on.

We say a stingray yesterday in a shop, he was in a tiny tank (dd1 wanted to buy him but sadly our tank is too small). I love my bristlenose and panda corys are pretty.

YESSSSSSS! Picked the tank up today, it is AMAZING. The guy couldn't have been more helpful. As well as a 165 litre tank it came with every accessory possible including amazing ornaments and spare pumps. Soooo happy. Now the waiting begins...!

Marne I'm guessing taking kids into a fish shop is a trying experience with all those gorgeous but hard-to-look-after fish on display!

Sorry to be a pain but I have another question. The lovely chap had kept the filter sponge and "noodles" in tank water at the bottom of the tank. It was totally saturated. Will this mean I don't need to cycle as long? (Yes I know, I'm impatient!!!)

Depends how long they were out of the filter. Bacteria need water, food (ammonia) and oxygen- they get the oxygen from flowing water and die off pretty quick once the filter has been switched off, even if they are kept wet. 24hrs and they prob will have all died off.

He emptied the tank this morning and I picked it up in the afternoon. Probs the filter had been dismantled for 5 hours. I will err on the side of caution though!

Well, you could bung it in and get some ammonia in there and then see what the test results are. Hopefully it might speed things up!