Nice tank....
I have a 4ft tank....
current inhabitants are cardinal tetras, harlequin rasboras, 4 penguin tetras, 3 neon rainbowfish, phantom black widow tetras, 3 botia striata ( great fish) a couple of platties , a spotted dorad , an ancistrus and 2 gara loaches and 3 cory catfish.
the cories only get to a maximum of 4 inches so you will be fine with those.
Good to hear you are doing the fishless cycle.