Malawi Cichlids - 38Gallon tank.

Question
Hey Joe,

I've been doing ALOT of research on malawi's and although most people recommend a 55 gallon tank to start, I've got a 38.  The tank is already cycled (set up 1.5 weeks ago)but the most difficult part of my setup is pickout out which cichlids to put in a 38.  I've read several articles with the 'most peaceful' setup, but most is based on a 55 gallon.  I would assume that as long as full adult size is taken into consideration, as well as quantity, anything can be scaled down.  I've got a crushed coral substrate, fluval 305, 200 watt heater set at 79 degrees (should it be placed near the filter powerhead or on the opposite end?)  One side is a pile of rocks for caves, and the other 2/3 of the tank is open water.  There is a piece of drift wood/bog wood on the right.  Everything's ready (ph, nitrites, nitrates, ammonia, hardness, etc), just picking out which fish I want to buy.  Would you recommend getting them all at once, or let them settle one by one with several days inbetween?  I've calculated an approx max of 8 cichlids for my tank.  I've understood that minimized aggression can be achieved by picking out one of each type of species.  So far I've concluded, 1 Auloncara Hansbaenshi (red shoulder peacock) max 5", 1 Protomelas Taeniolatus Utaka (red empress)max 4.5" for the open water, one Copadichromis Azureus "Electric Blue II" Female max 4.75", a Labidichromis Caerulus "electric yellow lab", maybe a zebroid, but that's all I've got.  I've heard good about Otopharynx, the F being 4" and the M being 5".  I did read also approximately 3 females to every male for these species.
I'm getting all scatterbrained doing all this compatability research.  Any help you can provide?  I'd greatly appreciate it.

Thanks a bunch!!!

Answer
First thing Jonathan...
You say the tank is cycled? You need to maintain a source of ammonia for the tank to stay cycled or the bacteria will die off. Add food to the tank as if you were feeding fish. This will help.
Now for the stocking of the tank.
I had a 30 gallon with 8 cichlids in it and did fine. Just make sure there are hiding places.
Add all the fish at once so nobody can become territorial.
You cannot very well have 3 females to each male in a 38 gallon because that would really limit you to one species or 2. When they say 3 - 1 ratio, that means 3 females of ONE species to one male of the same species.
If you go that route, I would get 1 Male yellow lab and 3 females, and 1 male electric blue ahli and 3 females. They are far the best color and peaceful and they both come from Lake Malawi. Try not to have cichlids from different lakes.
If you want more of a variety, then I would do all males.
2 of each of these.
electric blue ahli
electric blue johanni
electric yellow lab
P Kennyi
Other than that, your tank sounds great. I also use crushed coral to keep PH up.
Did I miss anything?