Hmm...

[creepyoldguy]

you want color and want it to be active hmmm...

geos are very colorful but not to active from what I understand ..

so as much as it pains me since I am into Sa/Ca cichlids...
I would pick the Tanganyikan's colorful , very active , cheap , granted your going to have to buy rock but your tank will look awesome , a 240 can hold quite a few so you can have gobs of color

I will have to agree with you on this one. A tank that size can house many africans. Again, I'm no African expert so I'm not sure if Frontosa are what you're looking for, but they are very beautiful and docile fish. THey are pretty pricey and slow growers but once they are grown they are amazing to watch. I have 2 friends with mature fronts and they are beautiful. I'm growing out some juvies at the moment and they're great to watch even young! Also, if you have a stream near by, why not just go pick out your own free rocks? Powerheads aren't that expensive either. I think you can pick up a Korilia for fairly cheap off the net. I found some big ones for around $40 from I believe petmountain or petsolutions.

 

[Allan01230]

I'd go with the geos. Whoever says they are not active has not kept them before. They are more active than big Central Americans. Check out the Geophagus Altrifons. You could do a nice colony in there and some cool synodontis cats to boot. Again you hav to go with what you like though. Another suggestion is Fossochromis Rosturus, which is a large hap. Google one an see what those guys look like as an adult. Very gentle very active sand sifter.