New Cichlids

Question
Hello, I recently purchased 2 Turquoise Severum Cichlids and one Red Blood Parrot (hybrid) Cichlid. I have cycled the tank and it has been running for around one year. I previously had a community fish tank but recently decided to try Cichlids. Knowing very little about Cichlids I am trying to learn the most I can. I know a great deal about other tropical fish but I have never had Cichlids before. I did a water test and discovered my water is a little crazy. Here are the results (20 gallon tank):

Nitrate - 40 ppm
Nitrite - 0 ppm
Hardness - 75 ppm
Alkalinity - 80 ppm
pH - 5.5

The thing that stood out the most to me was the pH and Nitrate, they are not anywhere near where I would suspect them to be. I have a planted tank and as I mentioned it has been cycled. I tested again and these are consistent results. I was reading that even some fish who prefer higher pH can do just fine in almost any pH as long as it is stable, is this true? I was going to get a pH treatment to raise the pH as I know Cichlids prefer a higher one but I do not want to have the pH be unstable and fluctuate too much. Also, I cannot seem to find information as to if the Severum's and Parrot's are schooling fish or not. My goal is to provide them the best habitat possible, closest to what would be natural for them (as natural as it could be for a hybrid of course which I know the Parrot is). I plan on getting a bigger tank within the next few months because I know they require more room. Right now they are small, however, only about 2 inches so I have time to get a bigger tank. My main questions are:

1. Should I mess with the pH or will be become unstable and shock the fish? Is a 5.5 ok? Can I add any kind of decor rather than use a chemical to raise the pH?

2. Are the Severum and Parrot's schooling fish?

3. What should the tank be designed like in terms of decor? Right now I have four live plants and a little cave, should I add more hiding places or give the most room for swimming?

4. Finally, when I get a bigger fish tank (50 gal+), what other kind of Cichlids will do ok with my Severum and Parrot's?

Thanks

Answer
Hi Rachel,
 In many cases a stable pH is more important than the actual level that it is at.  Also, be wary of statements like "cichlids prefer high pH".  For example, severums come from the Amazon and prefer acidic water, not alkaline water.  East African cichlids live in alkaline water but West African cichlids live in acidic water.  Parrots are a manmade fish so it is hard to say what they "like".  5.5 would be fine for severums so I would not attempt to raise the pH.  

 Severums like most cichlids, will school when they are young but become more territorial and solitary as they get older.  Parrots are manmade fish so I cannot answer that question.

  You should definitely add more structure, a lot more structure.  You are going to need that as they get older.  

  As for adding other cichlids, I generally only keep cichlids from the same area in nature together in a tank.  So, I might consider chocolate cichlids or one of the geophagus cichlids to go with severums.

-- Ron C.
  rcoleman@cichlidresearch.com
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