I raise, breed and sell Cichlids to the local pet stores here. If you do decided to get cichlids, my advice to you is get them in groups, not just one at a time. If you do it that way, they will more likely get along then if you added one at a later date, wanting to defend/fight over their area. They like to stake out a area thats their own and defend it, but alot of it is just bluffing the other one out. If you get Ram, they are more willing to get along better, then other. A convict for exsample is also less aggresive, then others. So make sure if you do mix, mix the right cichlids toghter. Also Rams are better about not uprooting you plants as much as the others do.

Have lots of hiding places for them, also cuts down the picking on each other. Use slate rock, plided up, giving them lots of hiding area. You can even get rocks from your yard if you want, cleaned well of course. Wood pieces, plants etc.

It sounds like you have a good natural Ph for them, but you still will need cichlid salt for them. Senes your ph is high, in a 20 gal tank, you shouldn't need more then a teaspoon, maybe two.

Rams are not my cichlids of choise, I more into the Lake Malawi cichlids their colors and tude are just more fun for me. But if have any certain ?'S let me know, I'll be gald to answer anything I can.

Here's a picture of one of our tanks, so you can see that they are happier with lots of hiding places and plants. And of course, just to show them. lol