Convict's tankmates

[Keetchy]

Hi all. This is the first time keeping cichlids and am looking forward to starting. I used to keep discus before and am now changing.
I have a Juwel Trigon 350 corner tank.
I have been given a breeding pair of convicts and roughly 100 babies. It was either take them, or mate was gunna flush them. There's no way i could let her flush them so i took them off her hands.

I just need advice on keeping them. Can i plant the tank out? Can i put rocks and wood in there? Sand or gravel? Is it ok to keep them in tap water or does it have to be RO water? And finally, can i stick any other fish in there with them?

Sorry for so many questions but i want to do this properly.

Thanks in advance guys and girls.

[Keetchy]

I asked about the gravel, plants and wood cause i know when breeding, sometimes its best to leave the floor empty so can remove uneaten food but then its good to have plants so they can hide when breeding.

[Keetchy]

Change of plans. I've managed to find a good home for the babies. So it will just be the two convict's in the tank now. I've got a 3ft tank which holds about 120 litres of water.
What other cichlids can i put in there and what other tropicals can i put in there.
Thanks.

[Dan Woodland]

Keetchy,

A three foot tank is fairly small for mid-sized aggressive Cichlids. It's actually better suited for something like shell dwellers or raising fry I would not try adding more fish with the convicts in place, as you undoubtedly already seen they can be very aggressive during breeding and protecting their brood.

If you have a larger tank convicts can cohabitate with just about anything as long as they don’t fit in the mouths of the other fishes.