I agree with th others that say, because your water is quite hard, South American cichlids could be problematic.
And either Central Americans, or rift lake Africans would be much better choices.
Because most Central Americans are very territorial, maybe a trio or quartet of one or another species not to exceed 6-8" would be best, augmented with a shoal of geographically correct live bearer,s like sword tails or mollies.
Any of the Thorichthys, many of the Amatitlania, or the a trio of nicaruguense or JDs would work.
Since others have posted pics of Thorichthys I will stick to others.
Amatitlania myrnae
Amatitlania cutteri
nicaruguense
Andinoacara coerleopunctatus.
Others of the genus Andinoacara more easily available and within budget, from South America like A rivulatus (the green terror), and may be some of the only size appropriate South Americans that would be comfortable in your hard water.
Reason being they are from west of the Andes, where harder water is found.
Below a video of JDs in nature in the Cenotes of Mexico. The water there is hard, and calcium rich due to the surrounding limestone from ancient reefs .
Eden2
And either Central Americans, or rift lake Africans would be much better choices.
Because most Central Americans are very territorial, maybe a trio or quartet of one or another species not to exceed 6-8" would be best, augmented with a shoal of geographically correct live bearer,s like sword tails or mollies.
Any of the Thorichthys, many of the Amatitlania, or the a trio of nicaruguense or JDs would work.
Since others have posted pics of Thorichthys I will stick to others.
Amatitlania myrnae
Amatitlania cutteri
nicaruguense
Andinoacara coerleopunctatus.
Others of the genus Andinoacara more easily available and within budget, from South America like A rivulatus (the green terror), and may be some of the only size appropriate South Americans that would be comfortable in your hard water.
Reason being they are from west of the Andes, where harder water is found.
Below a video of JDs in nature in the Cenotes of Mexico. The water there is hard, and calcium rich due to the surrounding limestone from ancient reefs .
Eden2
