[htismaqe]

Originally Posted by DJ's left nut

I've found that I really enjoy the shell dwellers; they're fairly small Tanganyikans that breed like rabbits.

My next large tank is gonna be Mbuna cichlids. I just haven't been able to talk my wife into it yet since I have 2 tanks and a large koi pond already.

Originally Posted by DJ's left nut

Here's what I'd suggest - Rainbows.

http://www.aquaticcommunity.com/rainbowfish/

They're extremely colorful, like cichlids. They' significantly more docile, though. They'll school better than Cichlids (who mostly just form territories and go to war). They seem to be much more in line with what your wife is looking for. If you're looking for a planed tank, these are unquestionably the way to go. I've had decent luck with them in the past, before I let my freshwater tank go to seed.

I second this suggestion. I was looking to go Boesemani Rainbow before I got into the Colombians...