Looking To Keep Cichlids

[m4tt_STiProdrive]

I'm now looking to hopefully keep cichlids at some point in the future (tropical set up at the moment and stock will be going to lfs)

my current tank was heavily planted but they have been removed and now is mostly white rock(local garden centre)and natural slate pieces a piece of drift wood with java fern will be re-homed,i'm looking this week to be adding some more rock,slate? and maybe large pebbles etc

substrate is about 1" depth of black mica sand my tank is a juwel rio 125 ltr (size according to juwel of 81 x 36 x 73cm)
current filtration consists of airstone and koralia nano 1600 powerhead as well as a fully cycled aquaone aquis 1050 series 2 external filter
bearing in mind my size and capacity of tank what types could happily be kept and stocking levels?
also would any further filteration be needed too?
this is all new to me so any help or advise from more experienced cichlid keepers would be most appreciated
thanks in advance
My water is currently 7.0-7.4Ph been advised to get some pieces of ocean rock to put in to help raise the ph levels

 

[SBL]

Are you looking into central american, south american, or African Cichlids? if your going raise your ph, go for Africans (Old World Cichlids)

 

[minnnt]

If wanting to keep american cichlids then you won't need to raise the ph, most of them would be happier with it a little lower tbh. And a lot of them would be fine with plants.