Beginner fish for my new tank

[chrisnolan]

While my new tank is doing the cycling stuff I have been busy trying to research some easy and hardy fish ready for stocking up eventually. My water is soft, pH is around 6.4 from the tap (still waiting on API test kit for a more accurate reading, hardness is 2.24 Clarke, trying to keep temp around 25 or 26C.
Ideally would like to keep shoaling fish with maybe a couple of feature fish and of course a few corydoras for the bottom and would love to try a few amano shrimps too. My local LFS has some lovely white tetras which they list as albino black widows (I spent a good half hour watching them this morning so would love some of those). My other selections are cardinals or neons, black phantoms, silvertips, harlequin rasboras and cherry barbs. Out of that selection which do you think would be best for a beginner and how many of each. I know they are all schooling and do best in groups of at least 6. Love the look of the bolivian rams or the pearl gouramis too but not sure if either would do well with the others. I forgot to add a couple of ottocinclus to help with the cleaning. Would appreciate any suggestions. Thanks in advance.
My tank is a Jewel Rio 180 so around 40 imp gallons I think and has plants and dragon rock

 

[Slaphppy7]

The black widow tetras are actually a color morph of the black skirt tetras; they can be a bit nippy if not kept in large groups...I'd go for the black (or red or yellow) phantoms instead, just as attractive, and no nipping.

The other fish you list would be fine, just be sure to keep them in groups.

Hold off on otos until the tank is mature, they graze constantly on algae, which new tanks won't have a significant amount of. If they don't have algae to constantly forage on, they won't do well.