Cichlids! - 40 Gallon Breeder

[Soupy97]

So I just picked up a 40 gallon breeder tank and I am looking to stock it with cichlids. I have sand as my substrate and I am planning on growing live plants (i know this could be tough). I know very very little about cichlids so I am unsure of what I want to stock the tank with. I was wondering if anyone could steer me in the right direction...
 
It would be best if the recommended fish did not eat or dig at plants.
 
I like colorful and larger fish, but I am not against stocking it with smaller cichlids (it is only 40 gallons afterall).
 
Thanks for the help!

 

[Awilcox]

Most cichlids are bad with live plants. I have a tank of blood parrots and convicts and they are always moving substrate around and moving the plastic plants I have. Do you want African cichlids or South American?

 

[thereverendturtle]

Your safest bet with a planted tank are dwarf cichlids. What are your water parameters, pH, temp, hardness? This will have a lot to do with your choices.