40 Gallon cichlid tank help

[Bcreed]

I will just start off by saying I am new to this forum. Any help would be appreciated.

I recently bought a brand new 40 gallon "Breeder" tank. It measures 18h x 36l x 18w. I am looking to put Cichlids in and some open water swimmers if possible. I do not have a strong preference towards african cichlids or new world and am even thinking of mixing the 2 if that would could work out. The fish that I am looking at currently are:

Buffalo head (Steatocranus sasuarius), some sort of peacock (Aulonocara sp.), Demasoni (Pseudotropheus demasoni), Firemouth (Thorichthys meeki), Ram not sure what variety , Green terror (Aequidens rivulatus).

These are just what I found. Any suggestions or input would be greatly appreciated, Cichlids or otherwise!

Thank you!
-Brendan

[Bas Pels]

I do not have a strong preference towards african cichlids or new world and am even thinking of mixing the 2 if that would could work out.

It won't work. Africans - that is rift lake, fish with a high agression, high pH and West Africans - not much is known, so better to take no risk
Americans - South america is soft and low pH water, central america is harder - but their agression is such they will not understand each other, and therefore, such combinations will not work

Besides, the tank is too smaal for cobinations of more than 2 species

[quote]

peacock (Aulonocara sp.), Demasoni (Pseudotropheus demasoni) you will need a lot of them, and therefore a larer tank, more than 4 feel length
Firemouth (Thorichthys meeki), possible. It is a central American species, other CA species: Cryptoheros - any species and Archocentrus all species. Look on this site for more information. Howeve,r as said, 1 species, and only 1 pair
Ram not sure what variety , possible, they are South american
Green terror (Aequidens rivulatus). South American, but they grow far too big - 8 inches, and are very agressive

[Bcreed]

OK thank you for the advice! I appreciate the help