3 foot options

Hi all. Hope you had a fantastic Christmas and all that. I am getting my 3 foot going and not looking at species I have had before like gourami and angels.
Am looking at either a pair of gold head rams or a pair of kribs with some cories and nano fish like neon or cardinal tetras and maybe a few live bearers. My question is can I keep these cichlids in a community tank. Am taking time to cycle properly using a number of brands for bacteria and working at getting aerobic and anaerobic bacteria going. Also using a trickle filter sump. Will only add the cichlids once the tank is established properly don't mind taking the time to settle it. Also what planted plants can i use that are not high maintanance requiring co2 and the such.
Feeding will be varied with fresh and freeze dried.