1. Cichlids tend to be very intelligent fish. You should do your best to interact with them as some species will respond positively to you arriving home. These fish are very active and if you interact with them, they can develop much better.
2. It is generally a good practice to purchase the largest aquarium that you can actually afford. A larger aquarium will be less susceptible to quick changes in the chemistry, and will offer much more stability.
3. In larger aquariums, you should put a few scavenger fish in the tank. Scavenger fish will help to clean up left behind food and wastes from the other fish in the aquarium. This is a good eco friendly way to keep your aquarium clean.