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Right now I have a fairly new tank, 150gl, with 2 jack dempsies, 2 convicts and 2 hypostemuses(or is it hypostemi?)...I was thinking of changing the tank to a community..but I've been looking at this website for a while and found quite a few cichlids that I like...one being the Orange Chromide. Seems like they would be OK..but someone wrote something to the effect of 'add seasalt or the fry will be e to fungus'. What does this mean?
If I decided to stick with cichlids..is it OK to mix african with american? because I really want a couple of Angels, too...and a few more types of plecos.
Can anyone help me out

The problem with angels and discus amongst a lot of the other cichlids is that they are not 'aggressive' enough to get food. You can mix African and American cichlids, though plenty of people don't recommend it and certainly the 'purists' object. Personally, I think keeping fish is all trial and error, so go with what you like, but use as much information as you can to make an informed decision. That is, pick fish that have similar temperaments and ecological requirements (for pH, kh, gh, temp etc etc). The biggest problem with mixing cichlids, IMHO, is matching personalities and temperament. Some of the best looking fish are also very aggressive, and you just cant mix them with timid fish (like angels or discus). Other than that... i say go for it!

Angels mixed in an african cichlid is probably not a good idea they are two docile, best left for a strictly community tank. If you add angels to that mix, you will probably wake one morning and find them without fins, especially there long pelvic fins

If I recall correctly, Oranges prefer brackish conditions, and are too docile/small for a CA tank. Same goes with discus/angels (they're FW, though).

when i talk of these other fish that i want to get...it's after i get rid of the dempseys and convicts..i'm not keeping those. does this make a difference?

Yea, it does. In that case, I'd stock it accordingly:

Oranges
various larger livebearers

Heavily planted of course--a beautiful lightly brackish Central American tank.

After first hand experiance, i definatly do not recomend american cichlids with african.