Little new with cichlids, cupple questions

[acetennis2002]

think im going to get a 20 gal. tamk for my livingroom and i want to put in some really colorful cichlids but i dont know much about them.
1. i only want to get a 20 gal. tank no bigger
2. what kind of filtration do they need?
3. what kinds will do well in a 20 gal. tank
4. how many will fit in the tank
5. what kind of decor will they need
6. what should the water conditions be kept at

Thanks for all the help it is greatly appreatiated

 

[sevs]

Dwarfs are your only options for you as far as new world cichlids go.

 

[alabaster]

or you could look into mbuna (rock-dwelling) cichlids from africa

 

[kev_kb]

or you could look into mbuna (rock-dwelling) cichlids from africa

In a 20? Are you sure?

 

[parker313]

In a 20g, for color, your best bet would be rams or apistos.

You could do a pair of rams or a pair/trio of apistos and then a school of smaller dither fish like neons or other smaller tetras/barbs/rasboras.

 

[freddyk]

or you could look into mbuna (rock-dwelling) cichlids from africa

Bad idea. These fish may not be very big, but they need room.

 

[boxman]

For colour and character you can't go far wrong with butterfly rams in my humble opinion!!

 

[wrs]

or you could look into mbuna (rock-dwelling) cichlids from africa

I think you mean tanganyikan, which are good for a 20 as well, like some julies, and are african. not all africans are mbuna, only a group from malawi.