sorry that I have not responded in a while, Byron. I finally realized that the water I have been using is not going through the softener. I will start mixing it with RO water before I put it in the tank. I am still not sure about stocking it though. I really want to put I African butterfly fish in. I understand that this and the angles are from different parts of the world, but according to seriously fish the African butterfly fish and the angelfish have a pH of (6.0-7.4). My stocking ideas were 1 ABF, 5 petrophyllum scalare, whiptail catfish, 10 corys?
The African Butterfly Fish (Pantodon buchholzi) is not a community fish. I had a pair for several years in their own aquarium. They will snap at or attempt to eat any fish that approaches the surface. And their mouths when open are surprisingly huge. They are ambush predators, remaining almost completely motionless among floating plants until something at or near the surface moves and then they attack. Very interesting fish, but on their own. And a pair (or more) is fine when space (surface area) permits.
No problem with the whiptail catfish or cories in with angelfish.