This depends on your Spieces, most New World Cichlids are tolerant of a wide Ph range ots the Amazonians like Angels and Discus that require soft water.
Acaras, Firemouths, Convicts, JD etc will generally be happy in anything from 6.5 to 8.5.
Big Al I wouldnt recomed Angels in a tank this small, as you have prob realized now a lot of fish will require a tank bigger than yours. You could quite hapily keep a pair of Convicts, as you mentioned, they are easy to carefor and very tollerent of newbies plus they will no doubt sucessfully spawn for you.
Thats my suggestion anyhow
Many fish are 'tolerant' of a wide ph range, but the goal of many hobbyests is to replicate a natural environment for thier fish, and provide it with the best care possible. Not to stuff as many different fish as they can into a tank. I would give it the ph that its naturally used to, no matter if it can 'tolerate' a higher or lower one.
If you want SA do SA.... and if you wanted Africans then get another tank
plus they will no doubt sucessfully spawn for you.
