50g Tanganyikan stocking ideas???? Need help from the experts!

[screename]

I am open to all opinions. I have been battling some mad depression and PTSD as of late and want to set up a tank to help calm me down and use as an outlet. I am not well versed with tangs and this will be my first tang tank. I do not want to keep tropheus. Tank is 36"x18"x18"

Fish I DO NOT really want to keep:
leleupis
julies
cylindricus
tropheus (I do like them but tank is way too small)
frontosas
petros

Fish I really like:
shell dwellers
helianthus
paracyprichromis
cyps
calvus
comps
ectodus
callochromis

My favorite fish are a very certain paracyprichromis. How many could I keep? Would it even be possible? Most articles say that a 48" tank is suitable but this is the tank I have. I hope it is feasible =/

I have great access to some nice fishies from work but will most likely be special ordering as I want some very specific ones not available.

[armthehomeless]

You can definitely get away with paracyps in a 3' 50g. Since you have "mad skillz" when it comes to scaping, think about how you want the tank to look like. Paracyps will like rock and will stay pretty close to them at all times. If you want a mostly open water tank, then some of the smaller callochromis or xenotilapia(red princess or papilio sunflower) would work.I'd say the tank is too small for most cyps . . . but you could get away with some utintas. If you want a tank with loks of rock, calvus/comps will do pretty well with the paracyps. Helianthus tend to get too aggressive . . . especially when they are breeding. I'd stay away from them. You could put most shellies in there as well. Overall, I'd try to stick to Paracyps oand one other species though.

Just my .02.

[screename]

Tim, I can't thank you enough for the detailed answer. If you have time to stop by today, ill be at the store and maybe you can help me with a little selection. If not, that's cool. Again, thanks for taking time out for answering.

[Fire_chair]

Yeah, what he said. Paracyps and shellies would be my idea, and I would probably throw one Comp in there just because I like them.