Stocking a 30g

[Elsewhere]

So some of you peoples know that I have a Goldfish that I'm giving to my aunt, so I will soon have a free 30g to stock. I was thinking up a few plans, and wanted your input.

First off, this won't be happening until the summer, but I was thinking of getting the 30g and planting it. I'll be moving, but only a mile away, so I think that the plants will be okay. I was going to put in maybe three Mystery Snails after planting it so they could keep the algae down, but that's still being debated.

Stocking idea one:
5 Zebra Danios (2 inches)
5 Bloodfin Tetras (2 inches)
3 Dalmatian Mollies (3 inches)

Stocking idea two:
5 Silver Hatchet Fish (3 inches)
5 Bloodfin Tetras (2 inches)
1 female Betta (2.5 inches)

Stocking idea three:
Female Betta sorority of fifteen females (Lots and lots of shopping to be done for that one!)

Stocking idea four:
4 or 5 Gouramis (5-7 inches)

Stocking idea five:
5 or 6 Cichilids (5-7 inches)

Stocking idea six:
1 Rainbow Shark (6-7 inches)
5 Bloodfin Tetras
5 Zebra Danios

Thoughts on these? Suggestions? I'm really just looking for bright and colourful! I would also really appreciate some plant suggestions, as I am totally clueless. Also, should I put a layer of plant substrate and then gravel over top? What would be best for that? I really have no price limit for this, which is awesome and my mom hates, so feel free to suggest ANYTHING!

*Note: One of the only reasons I'm being allowed to do this is because my mum wants a Roman design for the tank (and maybe me too...) so there will be Colosseums around the tank.

[Crowntails]

I'd do:

-1 Honey Gourami
-10 Zebra Danios
-8 Panda Cories

[Elsewhere]

I can only go to my "local" PetSmart, which is in Canada, and they pretty much suck for stocking. No Honey Gourami or Panda Cories :/

[MattsBettas]

IMO I would make it a livebearers tank. Guppies, swords, and platies!

[Elsewhere]

I have a new stocking idea, which I really, really like. Just wondering if you peoples think it'll work:

5 Silver Hatchetfish
4 Otocinclus
3 Mystery Snails
Rainbow Shark

@MattsBettas: I was thinking that too, but my friend told me it might be a bad choice because she had a tank like that and they just bred and bred and bred. She ran out of room with all of the offspring!