What are the dimensions of the 65 gallon aquarium? Most of the Protomelas will grow to 8", which can make them too big for a 65 gallon. Do you want breeding tanks, or all males?

 

65 gallon is 3 foot wide which was a concern of mine also. I have a 55 gallon that is four foot and I can easily make a 5 or 6 ft plywood tank when the need arrives.

My focus is more on color and aggression. More interested in more color and less aggression. A bonus would be a genus or species that does not tear up plants. O love big tanks that I can safely heavily stock and have as many different colors and patterns represented without them eating each other. Protomelas was an easy choice based on my local selection and my limited research. I am looking in the right direction if that is my goal in a fish?

 

You are going to really need to get/ or make a 6ft tank for this project. If you heavily stock the plants, with the right species, you are likely to do fine with most Haps/Peacocks. You'll want to go beyond just Protomelas, but that is a good start. I'd suggest an all male tank.

The 55 gallon, or the 3ft 65 won't suffice.

I'd suggest that you get the tank details down, before worrying about which fish to keep.

 

Protomelas is my favorite genus of Malawi cichlid. In the last few years, I've bred 7 different species/variants and have two more groups currently that haven't spawned yet.

That being said, their tank space requirements vary wildly with genus. Something like a breeding group (quad) of super red empress or steveni Taiwan Reef can be fine in a 55/75 whereas a spilonotus sp. will need a 180 as adults.

If you don't think that you'll be able to upgrade from a 65 for some time, I'd go with a smaller hap - perhaps an Otopharynx sp. or a smaller Copadichromis. Both genus have some beautiful species and some stay around 5". Peacocks are another option.

If you think that you'll be able to upgrade this year, go ahead and get some juvie Protomelas. With adequate filtration, 2" growout fish will be fine in the 36"x18" tank up until they hit about 4"-5" and start getting snarky.

In terms of plants, the only plant I keep with my Africans is anubias. Most others will get nibbled upon or uprooted.

EDIT: This advice is largely based on keeping breeding groups. I reread your initial post and if you're looking for color, follow Fogel's advice and go all male.