South American Cichlids with which plants...

Anubias isn't likely to work. My cichlids (five green severums and a
jack dempsey) loved to tear up the leaves of anubias and chew on the
roots any time they uprooted it. Java fern might work - if anything
with roots will work that will probably be it. The only plant I was
ever successful with in my cichlid tank was hornwort - there's nothing
to uproot and even when they tear it up it keeps right on growing. Of
course I don't think it looks quite as nice as rooted plants but it
does take care of the nitrate problem.

-Daniel