My LFS has some and has offered me a handful for free

tHEY KEP THEM IN OUR NORMAL TAP WATER WITH ALL THE OTHER FISH

I'm aware they are african cichlids and probably require hard water. My water is neutral ish cartainly not hard. But does the natural requirements of these kind of fish dissipate with tank breeding as the fish they have are breeding like mad and look very well?

also the only tank space is in my 150g tank which houses various plecs, flagtail prochilodus, reedfish ,fire eel, BGK and silver dollars. would they fit into this community or would they cause havoc

Just out of interest this as I do like them and they may brighten my tank up as only my silverdollars and flagtail are active

I would say no, Dont get them. If you really want them buy a 4 foot tank around 45-55g for them. In your big tank im sure the BGK and Fire Eel would make short work of them. I dont recommend keeping Mbuna with anything other then Malawi species.

fair enough

I wasn't actually worried about the BGK and Fire Eel cos the labs are about 4 inches long and those two wouldn't go for them

I've got a 4ft but its domwinated by a cobra pike and bar a bichir and syndontis nothing else can go in lol

I'd be worried about the labs possibly picking on others. Yes they are passive...for mbuna. But they are still mbuna and they are aggressive fish and still fight and have territory disputes.