Am I Over Stocked

[Becks1985]

I was just wondering I have a 350litre aquarium with current stock of
10 rummy nose tetras
10 serpae tetras
3 Mickey Mouse plates
2 dennision barb small
3 serbae Corydoras
2 otto cat fish
5 cherry shrimp

Was thinking of getting 20 cardinals , 5 male guppies , 4 blue rams. Maybe 2 more Corydoras

Would I be overstocked are what do you think? Help would be great thanks.....

 

[eaglesaquarium]

I'd say you aren't overstocked at the moment.  But, I believe the denison's prefer to be in larger groups, so I'd up that number, plus I'd up the number of serbae? (sterbai) corydoras to at least 6 individuals, if not more than that.  Also, ottos need to be in larger numbers than 2.
 
I'd stick with your currently stocking, but push the denison's number up to 6, increase your corydoras sterbai number to 6, and your ottos up to about 6 and that would pretty much put you at max stocking. 
 
I'd avoid the blue rams in this set-up as they require higher temps than some of the other fish.  The sterbai corys and the rummynose tetra would be fine, but not sure that the barbs, serpae and platies would like/thrive in that temp.
 
 
Serpae can be nippy little buggers, so I think guppies and serpae are a bad combo.  Long fins of the guppies might be too tempting for the serpae.

 

[Jenste]

I would just stick with what you have and up the shoals. Maybe add a "center piece" fish to stand out. (one of the more tranquil gouarmis perhaps?)

 

[Becks1985]

Hey eagles
Was wondering could i still I go with the cardinals as well ? Maybe even if I went less than 20. I have my tank at 26 degrees. Is that not suitable for german blue rams?

 

[eaglesaquarium]

That temp is about the upper limit for the denison barbs and is the lower limit for the rams...  Bolivian Rams are very happy at those temps. 
 
 
Certainly a group of cardinals could work, but with the barbs getting so big, smaller fish are really a scary proposition...  Denisons can grow up to 6 inches in length, and you'd need 6 of them for them to be "happy".  That's 36 inches of your bioload right there.  
 
Perhaps the better option would be to try to rehome the barbs and platies.  Doing that opens up the stocking options a bit.  
 
Cardinals happily live at the temps required for the rams.  The sterbai corys do also.  The rummynose can deal with temps as high as 82F (roughly 29C) and that's basically where the rams would need to be... in the 28-29-30C range.
 
A group of cardinal tetras like you suggested would be fantastic in your tank (15-20) with:
10 rummynose tetra
10 serpae tetra
6-10 sterbai tetra
6 otos.
2 pairs of blue rams - just be sure that each pair will have PLENTY of space for a territory away from the other one, and plenty of caves and hidey holes for the rams as well as the cories...
 
That would pretty much max your stocking, but at 27-28C, the temps would be good for all the inhabitants to get along.  None would be their limit.  Just my opinion though...

 

[Becks1985]

Thanks for helping eagles
Yeah I new the barbs grew quite big at the min there only bout the same size as the rummy nose tetras I was gonna let them grow a bit more an sell them on. Where I'm from there hard to get I bought them for £2 each an most of my local pet stores sell them for £14. I really like the Sterbia corys so prob will get more of them.

The rams were only a thought really don't know bout them for certain.

I really want to get the cardinals though so don't mind doing without other fish for them.
What bout a dumbo fighting fish would the serpae tetras nip at it. Was looking sorta one fish bit bigger than my schooling fish to stand out.

 

[eaglesaquarium]

Getting some bigger fish to stand out is fairly easy, but serpae can be a bit of an issue.  They are little buggers sometimes, but I think I can offer some suggestions.
 
 
I wouldn't get ANYTHING with flowing fins, as the temptation could be too much.
 
You could get some rams - they can grow to about 3 inches long.  Not terribly large, but bigger than the rest - except for the denison barbs.
 
Keyhole cichlids are generally very placid and grow to about 5 inches or so.  They don't have quite the greatest coloration as some of the other cichlids, but they won't make a mess of your tank.  
 
I'd steer clear of any of the gourami species, as their "feelers" can be a bit of a temptation to the serpae as well.
 
Not coming up with any others currently...  maybe someone else can or I might think of another later...