Cichlids for 20 gallon aquarium

Question
QUESTION: I have a 20 gallon aquarium, and i was thinking of keeping cichlids in it. the tank is currently devoid of fish. I want to be able to keep more than just one pair, and fish that won't get too big or be too mean, and preferably inexpensive and readily available. are there any cichlids out there that meet these qualifications? I was told that i could keep convict cichlids in my 20 gal, but I'm not sure if they meant just one, or a pair, or what. I really appreciate your help!

ANSWER: The minimum size for cichlids is 55 gallons... You might consider the German ram... they are small cichlids and you could keep 6 in a 20 gallon tank... dave

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QUESTION: I have read that rams are fairly difficult to keep... is this true? What sort of conditions do they prefer? What kinds of other fish can they be kept with?

Answer
Rams can be difficult... They like lower pH about 6.5-7.0... Once you have your tank established they are easy to keep.  The trick with Rams and Discus is to get the tank established first.  That process can take up to a month.  Rams are bottom dwellers and as such require hiding spots.  They are very beautiful fish though and well worth the extra effort.  They are also peaceful fish unless they are breeding so you can keep a lot of different kinds of fish with them.  Some of these would include swordtails, barbs, a male betta, etc.   dave