First, what size tank, LOL? Second, how long have ya been keeping the fish in this set-up with the current filtration and waterchange regimen?
Nitrate toxicity is dependent on species and size. Larger fish are more tolerant of higher amounts. Unlike ammonia and nitrites, nitrates are seldom lethal immediately; they result in long term health effects. In addition, fish will adapt to high nitrates over time. If ya put new fish in a tank that has seldom had water changes over a period of time, the condition of the newcomers will deteriorate rapidly even though the old inhabitants survive. I don't have any info on cichlids, as there are none in the creek we discharge our wastewater into, but most salmonids are susceptible to nitrate poisoning at 10 ppm regardless of size (species factor). That (partially) sets our discharge parameters. I've investigated the literature and found claims that anything from 20-25 ppm up to 50 ppm is acceptable for freshwater fish long term. Again, it varies. Species in waters with high biodegradation may regularly encounter 200 ppm. Personally, I like to keep it 20-30 ppm or lower.
In the past, I have regularly exceeded the suggested stocking limits that I've come across since I started looking at forums. Not grotesquely, but enough so that I'm sure I'll face some condescension when my tanks are up and running and stocked a few months down the road. I've already encountered that condescension when making a point about stocking as it is. I can't believe how conservative the suggestions are at times. More than anything else, water quality and aggression dictate to me what fish go in a tank, along with the fact that I'm severely anal about maintaining biotope tanks. No mixing species from different continents here, LOL. As unscientific as it may sound, at times I'll stock based on "feel". If it doesn't "feel" right, I don't do it. That personal factor aside, I see no harm in, and have never experienced problems from, mild overstocking as long as the fish are not fighting, are healthy, and the filtration/water change schedules are adequate to maintain good water parameters.
WYite