finding a suitable bottom dweller for my aquarium setup

[Beastie]

Still doing research and haven't made up my mind yet, so bear with me. I'm looking for a suitable bottom dweller for my large tank (120x50x60 cm). The bottom's currently occupied by 4 bolivian rams that spawn regularly every 2-3 weeks. They lay eggs and guard a 5x5 cm territory for 3 days, then move the wigglers around while guarding a smaller area, and eventually free-swimming fry emerge, only to be eaten by the other bolivian rams 3 days later. I'm fine with this scenario since they don't harm any of my other fish; corydoras always get out of their way.

I'm looking for something that can coexist on the bottom without being harmed, harassed, or pushed out by the bolivian rams. I've got a few options in mind: introducing a trio of whiptails with 2 or so tunnels, getting 10+ kuhli loaches with a coconut cave or two (there are plenty of roots and sand), or maybe even a pleco (I haven't had one in over 10 years due to the whole "poop machine" thing, but I might be missing out).

I've been quite indecisive lately, having changed my mind about getting an angelfish, an acara, congo tetras, cherry barbs, danios, black phantom tetras, and brilliant rasboras in just the past week or so. I want to make sure I find the right fit for my tank.

[Beastie]

btw I've got a few amano shrimp in the tank, they seem to coexist just fine with the bolivians. On the other hand, snails aren't an option, they get harassed by the rams when they're guarding their eggs, the snails just don't get the warning. Had to rehome my rabbit snails when I introduced the b-rams and now I keep a close eye on my remaining large nerite.

[bettaMagenta]

Honestly, I recently got some Panda Garras and they're really cool. I picked up 5 of them, and they were tiny - only about 3/4 of an inch long, more like guppies than Corys or Plecos. I was a bit worried since I also have 5-7 inch Tin Foil barbs, adult Denison barbs, and a mid-sized pink kisser fish, but these Panda Garras are super chill and do their own thing. They're like an Asian mix of Corys and plecos, minus the huge pleco poop. They just cruise around, munching on the Tin Foils' food, and don't seem to care about the bigger fish. They're supposed to get up to 3.5-4 inches long, are pretty colorful, and really active. Plus, they're fearless and growing fast - I've seen them grow about half an inch in just over a week. Give them a look and see what you think - I've never had them before, and now I feel like I've been missing out.

[Beastie]

Honestly, I recently got some Panda Garras and they're really cool. I picked up 5 of them, and they were tiny - only about 3/4 of an inch long, more like guppies than Corys or Plecos. I was a bit worried since I also have 5-7 inch Tin Foil barbs, adult Denison barbs, and a mid-sized pink kisser fish, but these Panda Garras are super chill and do their own thing. They're like an Asian mix of Corys and plecos, minus the huge pleco poop. They just cruise around, munching on the Tin Foils' food, and don't seem to care about the bigger fish. They're supposed to get up to 3.5-4 inches long, are pretty colorful, and really active. Plus, they're fearless and growing fast - I've seen them grow about half an inch in just over a week. Give them a look and see what you think - I've never had them before, and now I feel like I've been missing out.

I've had the pleasure of keeping them in one of my other tanks - I've got a bunch of tanks going on, six to be exact, and I've got a lot of different setups. In this particular tank, I've got seven of them in a 150-liter setup, and I absolutely love them - they're one of the most entertaining, active fish I've ever had the chance to keep. However, I've learned that they can be a bit finicky when it comes to tankmates. In this other tank, I've got a rocky setup with some pretty turbulent water, and they seem to thrive in that environment. For this tank, though, I'm looking for something that's going to appreciate the wood and the more laid-back vibe - I think that's where the whiptails or loaches might come in.

[bettaMagenta]

just an FYI... mine actually do hang out on driftwood quite a bit in their tank. I've noticed they really seem to enjoy it. Also, I've recently started keeping hillstream loaches and I have to say, they're pretty fascinating creatures.

[Feline]

I've got a setup with royal whiptails and red lizard whiptails in a 50g tank, and they coexist with a trio of Bolivian rams. Mostly, they just do their own thing and don't bother each other, except when the male ram is guarding eggs and the whiptails try to sneak in a snack on the leaf where the eggs are laid. I'd imagine plecos would be similar, just a bit more rounded.

[Avalon]

I think Panaque clown plecos could be a great fit for you. They're a smaller species, only growing to 2-3 inches, and seem to do well in groups. I've had a group of six in my 125-gallon tank, but previously had five in a 75-gallon, so they can thrive in a variety of environments. They're wood-eaters, but not in the sense that they'll devour the wood itself - instead, they love the aufwuch that grows on the wood, and they'll also eat pleco wafers and other catfish pellets.