What are your top tips for Cichlid newby?

[Amber n The Boss]

I've never owned any type of cichlids before and after trying to Google them I realized there are so many different species that I really don't know what I'm looking at getting myself into.
I'm not a newby when it comes to fish keeping. I currently have a 150g with 2 ID sharks, 1 pleco, 4 hybrid synodontis.
The other day my husband surprised me with a 120g 4x2x2 and said we should get the "colorful" fish, meaning the "assorted cichlids" we've seen at the big box stores. He thinks my sharks are boring...lol. Realizing that labeling them "assorted" is a huge joke I'm wondering what tips would you give someone looking at these types of fish? We're looking to do a sand substrate and led lighting. Could someone give me a few specie names to Google more info on with what we're looking for?
Something very colorful
Not going to outgrow a 120
Will like bright lights with a sand base
And how many of your given species I can have. I know they are aggressive and I don't know what types work together.
TIA for all your help and hoping suggestions- Amber

 

[Empyreal]

Cichlids in general are fairly aggressive and territorial. There are many species so its hard to discuss them all, and not something specific. They go from the fairly peaceful severum all the way to hyper-aggressive dovii. My suggestion is to research each individual species before buying. Some are aggressive enough to claim a whole 120 to themselves. Make sure you research max sizes as well. IF you do want to do a community always buy the most peaceful one as it only takes one mean guy to ruin a whole tank. There a lot of learning to be done with cichlids, best of luck.

 

[jagster]

i'm no african cichlid expert but sounds like it would make a good african tank, have all fo your colorful fish and with a 120 you can put a lot in there

 

[Amber n The Boss]

There are so many types of cichlids I was just hoping someone could say here are 3 or 4 cichlids species that will work together when older and will fit the tank as adults.

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[justarn]

malawii mostly stay small below 8 inch and are all very colourful, guessing this is what you have seen in the lfs, a good mix can make for quite an impressive sight. personally i would go for south americans such as a pair of brown acara, a red shoulder severum, a green terror, a nicaraguan, firemouth, and a chocolate cichlid... well maybe not all but a selection... a small pleco species like a tiger pleco and 3 spotted pictus cats!-) some nice bandy pieces of driftwood and some nice river rocks and a dark sand, black background and dimmly light the tank...

 

[baji]

Green terror or go with a group discus...

baji...

 

[Amber n The Boss]

malawii mostly stay small below 8 inch and are all very colourful, guessing this is what you have seen in the lfs, a good mix can make for quite an impressive sight. personally i would go for south americans such as a pair of brown acara, a red shoulder severum, a green terror, a nicaraguan, firemouth, and a chocolate cichlid... well maybe not all but a selection... a small pleco species like a tiger pleco and 3 spotted pictus cats!-) some nice bandy pieces of driftwood and some nice river rocks and a dark sand, black background and dimmly light the tank...

Thank you so much!!!

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[petspoiler]

top tip: research many different sources on your own about fish species & workable combos before acting on much advice from individual keepers. you want to have some reliable information to measure people's input against. Compare advise.
Many people on here are probably comfortable with setups that you may be very UNcomfortable keeping. Look at multiple sources and compare them.
First try to get an idea what type of fish interaction you will enjoy, in terms of conflict & aggression. Also, do you want breeding or not? that matters.
Second, scout the stores or other purchase sources which you want to use. no point in researching 1,000 species if your actual choices are narrow. If local store: look at types of fish you like, get correct names (might have to post pics here) & research them first as to likely compatibility + the stocking levels & decor/rocks etc needed to accomplish that.
Taking time in advance will help to stay within your boundaries of fish loss and $$ loss.
Some members here have a huge tolerance for both of those.
Choose carefully which/whose advice you follow. Lol.