thatonegirl;1145918; said:My cutteri cichlids bred in my hard city water and have managed to keep their young alive and growing in my 125. Shocked me. I couldn't believe any new world cichlid would breed in that water when they never did in my soft water. But then, any member of the cryptoheros genus breed like rabbits.
The generalization that New World cichlids need soft water and Old World cichlids need hard water is a vague one. Most Central American cichlids flourish in water that is above neutral and very hard. Cichlids like exCichlasoma salvini can be found in waters with pH upwards of 9.0+ and exCichlasoma urophthalmus (along with some other popular CA's) can be found in water so hard that mineral/salt deposits build up on rocks and branches in and around the water.
Alternately one can find blackwater species of African cichlids. Unfortunately many of them aren't so popular with the general public and as a result aren't so easy to find.
Most cichlids available through retail shops would easily adapt to most water sources so I find it unnecessary to fumble with one's water much of the time.