Hey y’all

I’m returning the hobby from about a year’s hiatus. I’ve got about 20 years experience keeping heavily planted tanks and five in the salt water. I’m looking to start cycling a 120G tank and I need some real basic information before I start doing so as I’ve never kept cichlids outside of a single Oscar like 15 years ago so I’m a little rusty.

First off, what filter should I be running? I’ve never had a tank this size and I know cichlids are a whole lot more messy than what I’m used to keeping so would it be wise to invest in a heavier than what’s required filter? I know regular large water changes are the key but I can’t seem to get a good answer from my LFS

Second: substrate, bear with me because this is totally foreign to me. Should I be using regular old sand? Aragonite is probably a bad idea yeah? I’m used to growing plants so my knowledge of substrate tends to lean more in that direction.

Third: tank decor. It should mostly just be drift wood and inert rock yeah? If so any suggestions for the type of rock? I kind of hate dragon stone but I’m open to pretty much any other kind.

Lastly and probably most importantly, I’ve fallen pretty hard for the albino threadfin Acara and I’m looking for tank mates to go with it. I’m not particularly interested in breeding anything so I’d be looking for one offs instead of groups. Suggestions also don’t need to be cichlid exclusive. I’m leaning towards throwing a geophagus sveni in there, maybe a fancy looking pleco but I’m not sold on that. Price isn’t much of a concern so feel free to go crazy with the suggestions!

Thank you for taking the time to read this