First, let's address your desire for ram's and apisto's. If you are new to cichlid keeping, you'll want to consider a Bolivian ram. It is slightly larger and hardier (and much less striking) than the ram you often see in your LFS Mikrogeophagus ramirezi but is much better suited to the beginner. As far as Apisto cichlids go, there are a wide variety of choices, but the Cockatoo and A. borellii varieties are suited to the beginner who doesn't mind making weekly water changes. These two species come from slightly different water conditions than the difficult to duplicate rain forest rainwater conditions of other Apisto cichlids. The species mentioned above are all dwarf cichlids and average about 3" in maturity.
The above fish are suitable for a community tank, but it is important to remember that cichlids can have a nature ranging from semi-aggressive to aggressive and can be especially nasty during breeding time. As long as you pick companion fish large enough to avoid becoming a cichlid's lunch, you should do alright.
