My 55s
First:
9 juvenile pre-adult discus
8-9 Sterbai Corydoras
3-5 Bumblebee Cats
3 CW007 Corydoras
4 very juvenile Geo. altifrons
2 small hatchetfish
8-9 Diamond tetras
Pair of Keyhole cichlids
2 large yellow ancistrus
A few bloodfin and emperor tetras
White mystery snails
Filtered by Eheim 2026 and a HOT magnum both with sponge pre-filters and tank is slathered internally with java moss w/ pennywort and water sprite. This tank is apparently bomb-proof as the water stays crystal clear even if while I'm traveling for 3-4 weeks between water changes.
Second:
5 large Orange krobei
4 large A. oblomgums
4 large Nicaraguan cichlids
2 Bolivian rams
2 6" Columbian pike
4 medium Guninacara
8 Corydoras arcuatus
1 yellow ancistrus
3 black Corydoras schultzei
Filtered by Eheim 2017, Aquaclear 110 and one dense foam filter w/ powerhead - planted with Anubias and a lot of Java moss. This tank has become similarly resilient since the Eheim was added to replace a power head with a coarse foam unit.
Too much? From my perspective you're not even close but it really depends primarily on your filtration, secondarily on your water-changing schedule, and thereafter on how heavily and/or often you feed and what else is inside the tank, like plants, algae, etc. that potentially contribute to cycling and nutrient loading/unloading. Java moss has a lot of surface area and the established colonies I have growing on driftwood look fantastic and I believe contribute significantly to the health of the tank. Admittedly these tanks are pushing the envelope as far as stocking but depending on your hardware and habits there's a lot of latitude for what one can do/pull off/get away with, even in a 55.
Unless your filtration is just borderline adequate, I'd say you have some room to play with stocking. I find Columbian tetras to be much showier than BAs, and think Biotodoma (cupid) cichlids are the bomb - pretty in the way that Bolivian rams are but larger and more flamboyant in a pastel, iridescent highlight sort of way.
Have fun.
