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starting a new tank. I had a 20 gal tank for several years and kept mainly swords, mollies and guppies. I have moved and have well water that is very hard and the pH stays pretty high. Have researched a little and found that cichlids can tolerate higher pH levels. Would my 20 gal tank handle, say, 2 convicts and could a covict handle going through a new tanks cycle process? With swords and guppies on the easy end of fishkeeping where are cichlids?

Hi, Traveler, and welcome to the forum!

A pair of convicts should do fine in a 20 gallon tank, and the water you describe should also be fine.

As to cycling the tank with the convicts, it can of course be done, but the outcome is not always positive. I generally do it these days by moving filter media from an established tank into the new tank.

It's also possible to cycle the tank before you put any fish in. Check out this thread: http://www.cichlidfish.com/portal/forums/showthread.php?s=&threadid=18189&highlight=cycle