Stocking a 46 gallon bowfront tank

[IzzBizz]

129.
That's how many guppies I have currently... INSANE.
I started with 4 guppies and now have 129 guppies! Ahhh...
So I have this 46 gallon bowfront tank that has become COMPLETELY overrun with guppies. I really would like to restart and try something else. It's wild how quickly the guppies took over.
I'd like to make it fully planted. Rn, I have some ?java fern? (I was given from a friend) but that's pretty much it. Honestly the layout is pretty bad *cringe*. There's fake plant decor scattered around the tank and I have 2 random pieces of driftwood. The java fern (idk if that's right lol) is in the front middle and the substrate is super thin.
So does anyone have any stocking ideas? I'd like a pair of (maybe a type of peaceful cichlid) some kind of center piece fish, and then corydoras, and some tiny and bright schooling fish, but honestly am open to ideas.
So here are my questions:
-What fish would you recommend for stocking?
-What plants would you recommend?
-Substrate? (It is currently black sand)
Also I think I may need an extra filter. Currently I have a Marineland Penguin 200b overhang and a whisper internal filter, but would I need another marineland?
I don't have a large budget rn so cheaper options are preferred.
I have a albino bristlenose pleco that I'm pretty attached to, so keeping him is preferred. Can cories and bristles get along? I like ottos too.
-Also where would I unload 129 guppies? Petsmart doesn't take them and I'm pretty sure petco wouldn't take 129 of them.. (also I am aware that this is an extreme overcrowding. I don't know what happened! I'm so sorry guys!)
Here is my tank currently:
Fish:
-129 guppies
-2 neon tetras (if I kept them would buy more)
-2 Black Mollies
-Albino Bristlenose Pleco
Plants:
-Java fern?
-floating java moss? (came in a bag for red root floaters lol)
Substrate:
-Black sand
Misc:
-2x driftwood

Any suggestions are appreciated. Tysm guys!

 

[A201]

Consider a group of five YoYo Loaches. One male Electric Blue Acara. The Acara will likely put an end to the Guppy issue.
For a schooler, look at a group of six or seven Giant Danios.

 

[IzzBizz]

Consider a group of five YoYo Loaches. One male Electric Blue Acara. The Acara will likely put an end to the Guppy issue.
For a schooler, look at a group of six or seven Giant Danios.

OHHHHHHH blue acaras are soooo beautiful!! I always have loved them. I think yoyo loaches are so cool too. Thanks for the suggestions!

Sadly they don't sell them in my lps. Any other centerpiece fish? I love cichlids.

How about a Convict Cichlid? Would they be good?

 

[A201]

Maybe one solo female Convict. A mated pair would be hard to manage and they are very proficient breeders. It's not good to be stuck with fifty baby Convicts.

Consider Firemouth Cichlids. They are easy to keep snd very inexpensive. The males grow to about five inches, the females are a little smaller.
I've raised quite a few of them.

 

[IzzBizz]

Maybe one solo female Convict. A mated pair would be hard to manage and they are very proficient breeders. It's not good to be stuck with fifty baby Convicts.

Consider Firemouth Cichlids. They are easy to keep snd very inexpensive. The males grow to about five inches, the females are a little smaller.
I've raised quite a few of them.

Beautiful fish!! How many would you recommend ? And with which fish? I'll have to look them up and see if they will work well for me. Thank you!!

 

[Fishkeeper12345]

For a fire mouth do you want either single or pair? Depending on that if you want one you could go for something like this:
• 1 firemouth
• 1 convict
• 1 Bristlenose pleco
This would be a nice tank but it’s not particularly a community tank. You might be able to do a small school of dithers but this stocking might be safer.

 

[Noroomforshoe]

Craigs list or facebook market or something simalar is a way to rehome fish. I usually ask for some info on the tank the buyer has, and I have a plan to say no, sorry, if im not convinced that they are good fish keepers.
But you might want to consider selling them for food for other fish.

A blue acara would likely likely eat them all in a week. Yoyo loaches maybe wont eat the adults, but will eat the fry. But it may take a while for the yoyos to grow to a size were they eat all of the fry.

You may want to look on line to buy an acara. or other fish.
Some very colorfull scholing fish are rainbow fish.

 

[IzzBizz]

You may want to look on line to buy an acara. or other fish.

Okay so Electric Blue Acaras look to be around $35 on ebay. Is that a normal price or expensive? Where do you guys buy your fish?

Craigs list or facebook market or something simalar is a way to rehome fish.

So I have posted on Craigslist. No one is biting And FB doesn't allow the sales of live animals.

For a fire mouth do you want either single or pair? Depending on that if you want one you could go for something like this:
• 1 firemouth
• 1 convict
• 1 Bristlenose pleco
This would be a nice tank but it’s not particularly a community tank. You might be able to do a small school of dithers but this stocking might be safer.

Hmmm, maybe. I have the same problem with the firemouths apparently. My LFS has like nothing waaa... I may have to just go online (which probably would have healthy fish, but wayy pricier)

 

[Noroomforshoe]

That price seems hi, i just looked around and found some lower prices even after shipping. Petsmart has them for 25 after shipping. Also consider calling every petstore in your area an ask if the can order the fish that you want.
Dont forget to look for regular blue acara, they are very beautiful!

 

[IzzBizz]

That price seems hi, i just looked around and found some lower prices even after shipping. Petsmart has them for 25 after shipping. Also consider calling every petstore in your area an ask if the can order the fish that you want.
Dont forget to look for regular blue acara, they are very beautiful!

Okay, I will try it! Tysm Noroomforshoe!