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I have run into this problem for the first time.
I am running a 55 gallon freshwater tank with a penguin 330 and a magnum 35o pro canister.
I recently added a inline uv unit and no difference.
I dont think the tank is over stocked
7 sword tails
1 angel
1 cory
1 common pleco
1 redeye tetra
1 african dwarf frog
3 small angels
1 apple snail
2 pearl gromies
5 tiger barbs
3 small danios
7 neon tetras
1 betta
the tank has been established for alomst 18 months with no issues.

You are overstocked & i would remove the common Pleco, as it gets too big & the Barbs, as they get nippy towards your Angels & Gouramis.


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thanx
the pleco is getting quite big. what would be an appropriate substitue?

Yes I'd say you are overstocked!
6 otos do the work of a couple of plecos, but that's just my opinion. They do leave lots of poop, it's just WAY smaller! I also like the siamese algae eaters, they get bigger than otos, but smaller than plecos.
Barbs and angels are probably not the best combination, but I'm worried about your single cory, they also prefer to be in groups, 5-6 is preferred. Gourami's and bettas are related, and barbs will go after betta fns as well. It looks like you may need to do some thinning of the ranks. Ask at your LFS to see if they would take some fish off your hands, some will even give you a store credit for them, some consider them a donation.

I would recommend
7 neon tetras
1 apple snail
1 ADF maybe 3
4 angels (big and small)
3-5 red-eyed tetras
5 cories
4-6 otos
either the betta or the gouramis

What you could do with the rest is get a smaller tank 20 gallons or so, to hold the 7 sword tails and the betta (or gouramis) or if you really like the barbs, then get a tank for them, or get rid of the fish they may beat upon. I have 6 barbs, I am aware of their temperaments, they are so sweet and usually only pay attention to each other, but long trailing fins will eventually get the best of them. Danios and barbs go together very well, I have had this combination from the start.

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