You can start with any size tank, but I recommend you don't go lower than a 10 gallon because I feel fish should have room to swim around and be happy, not to mention the smaller the tank, the more the toxins will build up. 30 gallons are fine to start with, but you will need a bigger tank for cichlids. They are quite aggressive fish (which makes them very entertaining... in the sense that they interact with each other, not that they kill or hurt each other). I recommend at least a 50 gallon for a cichlid tank.

You will also want to look into which cichlids you would want to get. There are different lakes the African cichlids are from, and you shouldn't mix the different species (from the different lakes: Tanganyika and Malawai).

The filter looks alright for a 20 gallon (since it says that it works for up to 20 gallons). Be sure to check the tank size for the filter.

There are other beginner fish besides cichlids, but I do like cichlids. However, I do find the beauty in all fish.
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Phishie
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"An ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure."

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