Build a lake tanganyika tank around the frontosa
A stack of rocks in the back corner (far left) and another slope of rocks towards the front of the tank about 1/4 of the way off the right so you have open swimming space and lots of caves.
Point the powerhead/ filter outlet behind the rock pile in the corner on the left pushing length ways across the tank and a wave maker/powerhead behind the second rock pile pushing water to the front of the tank so it looks natural.
Fish options
X1 frontosa
X20 shell dwellers will breed rapidly and fry will act as a natural food source for the frontosa so you can experience the predatory behaviour (most adults will hide in the rocks when the frontosa is near)
X2 pairs of Black Pearl calvus cichlids
X3 synodontis decorus (cleanup crew)
Fronts may grow slowly, but they grow into large, predatory, powerful, and unpredictably dangerous fish in spite o their lazy appearance. People even have issues with them killing big haps. Those synos should be fine, but the Shellies will be eaten, if not by the front, then by the calvus.
I think the shellies might be a good idea. If you breed them in a 20 long or something to make a colony of similis or multies. They may be able to use their colony tactics to stay alive and breed in spite of the mbuna and front.
N. Brichardi type fish might work even better, and will definitely make the tank interesting, but can completely take over the tank and kill everything else if you let the colony get too big.
The P. Saulosi are considered small "gentle" mbuna, but they may nip the front in the long run. They may also be eaten by the front.
I can't tell what kind of characin is in the bottom right corner.
Building higher rock structures and siliconing them together is a good idea.
If you look at "iwagumi" or other such things, you will see a lot of good ideas that can be transferred to rockwork tanks.
