Re-starting 75 Gallon Tank After A Few Years

So, I'm planning on re-starting my 75 gallon tank when I get home from the middle east. It's been a few years.
Here's what I'm running for filtration:
Fluval FX5
Tetra Whisper EX70

I typically run some kind of sand...or smooth rocks for substrate since I really like Cory's, especially Panda Cory's. Anything else just tends to be too hard on their barbells.

I have the standard fluorescent lights, but am looking to swap that out for LED.

I have several pieces of MopanI driftwood still.
I typically run with fake plants...I just don't have much success with real plants other than Marino Balls.

I've done cichlids of all sort...but that's more work than I like to leave for my family when I'm away. They're pretty, but require a lot of maintenance.

So I'm branching out and thinking peaceful, fun to watch and easier...ish.

I have two plans I'm looking at:

This is my preferred. It has more fish and the potential to be a more lively tank
6 x Congo Tetra
10 x Panda Cory
10 x Rummynose Tetra
10 x Cardinal Tetra
1 x Clown Pleco
10 X Bleeding Heart Tetra
...also maybe 1 Bolivian Ram (mostly to make the wife happy)

The other option is this. My wife likes the Gouramis...but I'm not sold on having the 1 larger feature fish. I am leaning towards more fish.
1 x Pearl Gourami
10 x Bleedint Heart Tetra
10 X Emperor Tetra
10 X Cardinal Tetra
10 X Panda Cory
1 X Clown Pleco

My background as said is mostly cichlids, particularly Oscars, JDs, Angels, Lake Mbuna dwarfs, and some Malawi. I've done swordtails and mollies...I just am drawn to tetras currently.

I also keep a 5 gallon Betta tank and have an empty 20 gallon tank that I'm thinking about using for an African Dwarf Frog and maybe some Cherry Shrimp.

Anyway, I appreciate any insight, tips or advice.

 

After reading on the forums. Maybe I'll try to do some real plants instead of the plastics.

Water Sprite
Crytpocoryne wendtiI either red or green
Maybe one or two of the old marimo ball

 

If you are up for it, perhaps try a dirt (soil) tank.if done correctly, it's pretty low maintenance for long while. I have a heavily planted 55 gallon with 4 pearl gourami, 9 sterbaI Cory, 13 cardinal tetra, 7 lemon tetra, 5 rasbora, and a dozen kuhlI loaches. It's been running for over 16 months at this point. I also have a sump with an additional 22 gallons of water. The sump is not necessary, but I like it and was fun to put together.

The soil tank is often billed for "beginners" but I do think it's a more advanced method. Most beginners don't do enough research or follow instructions exactly and don't know what to do in certain situations and mess up the soil tank. Anyway I am still a beginner (intermediate perhaps) but have had luck with the soil tank. Really like it.

Btw, not sure cherry shrimp plus the dwarf frogs are a good idea... may become a snack?

Also Cardinals prefer warmer water, sterbaI Cory would be a better match than panda Cory that prefer lower Temps. Likewise pearl gourami like warmer water.(78-80 degree F).

 

So, I'm planning on re-starting my 55 gallon tank when I get home from the middle east. It's been a few years.
Here's what I'm running for filtration:
Fluval FX5
Tetra Whisper EX70

You'd be fine with just the Fluval if you wanted!

I typically run some kind of sand...or smooth rocks for substrate since I really like Cory's, especially Panda Cory's. Anything else just tends to be too hard on their barbells.

Sand would be preferable for them, over gravel or smooth rocks.

I have the standard fluorescent lights, but am looking to swap that out for LED.

Good idea! More efficient!

I have several pieces of MopanI driftwood still.
I typically run with fake plants...I just don't have much success with real plants other than Marino Balls.

I've done cichlids of all sort...but that's more work than I like to leave for my family when I'm away. They're pretty, but require a lot of maintenance.

So I'm branching out and thinking peaceful, fun to watch and easier...ish.

I have two plans I'm looking at:

This is my preferred. It has more fish and the potential to be a more lively tank
6 x Congo Tetra
10 x Panda Cory
10 x Rummynose Tetra
10 x Cardinal Tetra
1 x Clown Pleco
10 X Bleeding Heart Tetra
...also maybe 1 Bolivian Ram (mostly to make the wife happy)

You have some issues with this stocking. You have 4 mid/top dwelling schooling fish, and 2 is really the maximum you'd want in a tank this size.

You don't have a lot of temperature overlap with some of the species you've chosen, as you have both warmer water fish (Congos, rummynose) and cooler water fish (Bolivians, panda cories).

What about something like this instead?
10x Panda Cory
10-15x Cardinal tetra
10-12x Bleeding heart tetra
1x Clown pleco
2x Bolivian ram (they like company)

The other option is this. My wife likes the Gouramis...but I'm not sold on having the 1 larger feature fish. I am leaning towards more fish.
1 x Pearl Gourami
10 x Bleedint Heart Tetra
10 X Emperor Tetra
10 X Cardinal Tetra
10 X Panda Cory
1 X Clown Pleco

Same issue here, so I'd remove one of the schooling fish (bleeding heart, emperor, or cardinal) and swap out the panda cories for a warmer water cory, like C. sterbaI or C. aeneus, as pearls prefer warmer water than the pandas.

My background as said is mostly cichlids, particularly Oscars, JDs, Angels, Lake Mbuna dwarfs, and some Malawi. I've done swordtails and mollies...I just am drawn to tetras currently.

I also keep a 5 gallon Betta tank and have an empty 20 gallon tank that I'm thinking about using for an African Dwarf Frog and maybe some Cherry Shrimp.

Anyway, I appreciate any insight, tips or advice.

See responses in green above!

 

Thanks for the input. Was talking with the wife and she pointed out it's a 75 gallon tank. Guess I can increase the size of the schools.

 

So rethinking and doing a bit more research. For 75 Gallons:

2 x Bolivian Ram (All levels...but the ones I've kept have always liked the bottom)
10 x Panda Cory (Bottom)
10-12 x Harlequin Ras (Mid lvl)
10-12 x Bleeding Heart (Bottom-Mid)
6-8 x Giant Danio (Top Lvl)
1 x BN Pleco, either Super Red, Calico, LF Calico, or LF Albino

Everything falls in the temp range of 72-79...with a 76/77 likely being the ideal temp range.

I'm also looking at doing Carib-Sea Eco Complete. The fine black sand type.

Java Fern on the driftwood
Cryptocoryne (I'm concerned the tank temp may be a bit low for it, even though it says 72-82)
Hornwort or Watersprite
Anacharis

Any recommendations on plants are welcome, I've never done a planted tank, but am committing to getting rid of the plastic ones. I'm leaning towards lower light plants since reading about the species I've picked, most prefer lower light.

 

So rethinking and doing a bit more research. For 75 Gallons:

2 x Bolivian Ram (All levels...but the ones I've kept have always liked the bottom)
10 x Panda Cory (Bottom)
10-12 x Harlequin Ras (Mid lvl)
10-12 x Bleeding Heart (Bottom-Mid)
6-8 x Giant Danio (Top Lvl)
1 x BN Pleco, either Super Red, Calico, LF Calico, or LF Albino

Still too many, as the schooling fish don't strictly stay in their sections. I'd cut out the danios and do 15 each of the rasboras and tetra.

Everything falls in the temp range of 72-79...with a 76/77 likely being the ideal temp range.

Go with 74 or 75 - it would be better for the cories and rams. 76-77 F is near the extreme upper end of their range, while 74-75 is more in the middle.

I'm also looking at doing Carib-Sea Eco Complete. The fine black sand type.

That would work, or you could go the cheap route and go with something like black diamond sand and use root tabs for the root feeders. Crypts are the only ones out of the plants below that would require root tabs.

Java Fern on the driftwood
Cryptocoryne (I'm concerned the tank temp may be a bit low for it, even though it says 72-82)
Hornwort or Watersprite
Anacharis

Temps are fine for all of those. Sometime anacharis won't grow well planted, so you can leave it floating if so.

Any recommendations on plants are welcome, I've never done a planted tank, but am committing to getting rid of the plastic ones. I'm leaning towards lower light plants since reading about the species I've picked, most prefer lower light.

See responses in green above.

Lower light plants are easier and a good introduction to planted tanks, so good choice! I might also consider something like water wisteria or jungle val for the background plants. Anubias is another plant that is tied to rocks or driftwood.

 

Thanks again for the input. I was kind of thinking of floating the anacharis. The reading I did makes it seem like that also helps keep the tank from being too bright for the fish.