MTS will do fine in a cichlid tank...Make sure you dont overfeed. You will have a zillion snails if you do. They will stir your sand well. I find a few empty shells so they do get eaten. They come out mostly at night and reproduce like mad so its not an issue. They dont eat plants or driftwood so they are a good addition. If you get too many just net them out. You need to be sure you want them before you add them. Once you get a few you cant get rid of them easily.