My *BRAND NEW* 6ft Cichlid Aquarium Setup from START to FINISH! (Fish Added)

The new 135 Gallon Custom Aquarium is here! We show the completed setup of this tank all in one video.
- Link to Custom Aquariums: www.customaquariums.com/
If you're interested in any of the products used in this video, feel free to check out the affiliate links below.
Equipment
- Sicce Syncra SDC 6.0 - amzn.to/35yJ0MD
- Sicce Syncra SDC 3.0 - amzn.to/3Jk69UA
- Sicce XStream Wavemaker: amzn.to/3z66jZW
- Fluval Heaters: amzn.to/3K78hj6
- Fish Net: geni.us/qlqxI4
- Python Water Changer: amzn.to/3z4vD2n
- Clearwater Scrubber - bulkreefsupply.sjv.io/3eNWdr
- AI Freshwater Blade Light: bulkreefsupply.sjv.io/6eNLgQ
Chemicals
- Seachem Prime: geni.us/R9IbGuj
- Fritz Glass/Acrylic Cleaner: geni.us/uvmwK8
Food
- Xtreme Krill Flakes - geni.us/iTAWsN
- Xtreme Big Fella Pellets - geni.us/9Cra
- Xtreme Nice Pellets - geni.us/6ADcc
Thanks for watching, and we'll see you next week!

[@johnleeson6101]

It's awesome that you and your brothers enjoy the same hobby and help each other out.

[@AquariumDomain.]

Basement is coming together nicely! Gratz on the new tank! 🙂

[@CichlidBros]

Thanks, appreciate it! 🤙🏼🤙🏼

[@PavanKumar-fk9gk]

Basement became a fish shop now😂😂..great tank

[@krzysztofkopaczewski4319]

I am very impressed with the support you have from your brothers . All your aquariums look really great but the solidarity of the brothers impresses me very much👍👍👍

[@CichlidBros]

Thank you! We’re all in it together 👌🏻

[@PULAG]

Yes great when family are helping each other.

[@krunalmali6706]

True 💯

[@markfranklin8831]

Very impressive and so lucky you and your brothers share the same passion in fish keeping and it shows thanks for sharing 💗💯✌️👍

[@reggie2803]

Nothing more enjoyable than setting up a new tank. Appreciate the video.

[@CichlidBros]

Agreed! Thanks for watching!

[@mikej2790]

I like the extra move footage, really tells the story of buying a new large custom aquarium!

[@makiarn777]

Beautiful setup! I just love seeing your basement! The 180 is my all time favorite, but your others are enjoyable as well.

[@APTV50634]

Beautiful tank awesome fishes and amazing setups

[@TheDavis547]

Very exciting stuff!! between you and Kaveman’s new Aquarium, I am excited to see both of them setup and running, great video 👍🏽

[@seanblake4688]

Dang that’s a sick tank and I love those fish. I think this was what I was envisioning when I finish my basement! Well done!

[@CichlidBros]

Thank you! 👍🏻👍🏻

[@jasono4735]

What a beautiful set-up. Great looking tank and entertaining video as always

[@CichlidBros]

Thanks for watching!

[@Jake-ur2wf]

This is awesome. Your fish room is getting better and better with time.

[@CichlidBros]

Thanks, Jake!

[@80s_monsterkid28]

OMG Quinn cracks me up.😂 I thought for sure I would finally see Quinn put in some work, but nope. Lol

[@PriceTagAquariums]

Love the new tank! Was looking forward to this video. Love the Dumb and Dumber references too! Good work Quinn on all your heavy lifting! haha. Your Haps/Peacocks are looking amazing in color! Your channel keeps me inspired to continue and grow this hobby with cichlids and my beginning stages of my own peacock/hap tank! Thanks!

[@28kartavya]

Beautiful setup! Always inspiring 😊

[@jaymilo8425]

The Bob's are so underrated 😂! Myself personally I'm still looking for a therapist or other to hypnotize me into that Peter chill mindset. Any ideas or advice please share. Awesome tank and video!

[@CichlidBros]

Haha, thank you!

[@crazyaboutafricancichlids1612]

Looks beautiful!!🎉 miss my fish so much!! Loving it

[@alanbrough6710]

Very very nice set up

[@CichlidBros]

Thanks!

[@drewsta005]

You built up the hype for this tank so long, and it is just a good as I expected. Beautiful tank indeed. Can’t wait to see what the future holds for them

[@CichlidBros]

Thanks for watching and following along!

[@markfranklin8831]

Your tanks are all so awesome thanks for sharing 💯✌️👍

[@kashifkashu7899]

Beautiful set up bro...❤ The tank looks amazing..couldnt see your catfishes more they are shy I guess and swim fast between the rocks...😅😂

[@CichlidBros]

Thank you! They do love to hang in the rocks most of the day

[@leo2o915]

The cat was like no more tanks 😂

[@CichlidBros]

😂😹

[@leo2o915]

@@CichlidBros amazing video love all the tanks you guys got they are amazing keep it up

[@CichlidBros]

@@leo2o915 appreciate that!

[@sapphirestar4027]

Love it! So happy for you! It looks amazing!!!

[@CichlidBros]

Thank you!

[@johnjr47]

Awesome New Tank, from Custom Aquarium !!!

[@CichlidBros]

Thank you 👍

[@rickvegastar1833]

The tank looks amazing! The colors of the fish definitely pop more in this set up! Looking forward to seeing future videos on this tank.

[@CichlidBros]

Thank you, appreciate that!

[@dcdude81]

Dude, looks great! Really interested in seeing what’s next!

[@CichlidBros]

Thank you! 👍🏻👍🏻

[@rajishmaharaj7552]

It looks awesome. Love how your fishroom has grown over time.

[@CichlidBros]

Thanks for watching the progress!

[@usmc72409]

❤❤❤❤❤❤ love it! Nice fish too. I always look forward to ur channels new vids. Ty for the content!

[@CichlidBros]

Thank you for following along!

[@usmc72409]

@@CichlidBros which brother answers the comments?

[@CichlidBros]

@@usmc72409 usually Troy

[@usmc72409]

@@CichlidBros I should have guessed.

[@sailfinaquatics]

Looks amazing!

[@CichlidBros]

Thanks!

[@brianp6180]

Awesome tank! Love your substrate idea. The mix looks great

[@CichlidBros]

Thanks a bunch!

[@carlwagers9829]

Wow! One day, I'll get to your level 😅 And thanks for the inspiration, guys. I'm being gifted a 75 gallon aquarium in the coming months and will probably do the severum, geophagus, and electric blue acara trio!

[@CichlidBros]

Awesome, love it!

[@onlywei]

If you skip the severums, you can have a very nice planted cichlid tank with that fish selection! I like plants a lot so it’s very difficult for me to give up anubias in favor of severums. Plus 75g is barely big enough for severums. I would do 90g if I ever got a severum.

[@carlwagers9829]

@Wei Wang thanks for the input! I'll take that into consideration, and I have a few months before this happens, so I got time.

[@nehaldhammurkar10]

Bro! The best cichild tank I've ever seen!

[@CichlidBros]

Thank you!

[@nehaldhammurkar10]

​@@CichlidBros bro it's a request can u make a video on tank mates of only peacock cichilds?

[@scotp6362]

Looks great, Troy!! That packaging for the custom aquarium was a stand in it’s own right, by most fish room standards!

[@CichlidBros]

Thank you, and totally agree! It was a workout unboxing it

[@MNC122703]

Beautiful brother

[@javieltaino]

Awesome new tank!

[@CichlidBros]

Thank you!

[@javieltaino]

@@CichlidBros About to set up my custom aquarium this weekend. You’ve given me some ideas lol!

[@CichlidBros]

@@javieltaino awesome, love to hear it!

[@javieltaino]

@@CichlidBros Do you ever have issues with overflow from the stealth box?

[@noelmangion6316]

The basement is starting to look good and the new 6foot set up is great and the cichlids look really nice in there new tank .

[@CichlidBros]

Thank you!

[@mikekotzer9545]

Nice setup! Great channel too!

[@CichlidBros]

Thank you!

[@razeemarahim]

Amazing tank and looks awesome. Especially the videos are really informative and entertaining

[@CichlidBros]

Thank you, really appreciate it! Glad you enjoyed the video!

[@maximusaquatics7835]

Amazing new setup for sure! Absolutely stunning man. I've always wanted a tank from Custom Aquariums, but I'm still saving my pennies..😂 Quality doesn't come cheap.

[@CichlidBros]

Thank you, and understandable!

[@jerryhigg]

❤ cichlid Papa Troy! You’ve done it again! Bravo 👏👏👏👍🐠🐟🤩

[@CichlidBros]

Thank you, appreciate that!

[@024DJF]

Awesome tank

[@ruthwalker5179]

Thanks for the suggestion on the 36 inch height for my next tank. I’ll definitely be following the sump plumbing step by step so I get it right! I don’t have an app with my lights either. Thanks for showing the benefits of these various products so I don’t have to rely on trial and error. 😊

[@CichlidBros]

Awesome, love to hear the video was helpful!

[@UnboxingEngineer]

Great setup

[@CichlidBros]

Thanks!

[@robertsmith8795]

Those suction cups give me the fear! Heart stopped when that one came off 😂 looks amazing!

[@RogueAquariums]

Nice set up.The tank looks great. Reminds me of my days when I used to house Central & S. American cichlids before I made the switch to saltwater.

[@CichlidBros]

Thank you!

[@bonnieconner804]

I’am so green with envy.😊

[@thehairywoodsman5644]

the new tank is awesome. also the reason each tank seems harder to carry down to the basement is simple, you're getting older! I'm 56 , about 3 months ago I moved all of my tanks from one room in my house to another, two weeks ago I had hernia surgery........

[@CichlidBros]

Thank you! I think you’re correct lol

[@tanktalktime]

Looks amazing 😍 I bet both the Malawi and the eba's will be extremely happy in the new homes 🤗

[@CichlidBros]

Thank you, they seem to be!

[@shawtyshort2648]

Blue Acara aka Electric Avenue song 🎶 nice touch! Lol beautiful tank.

[@CichlidBros]

Haha thank you!

[@AntonioCastro-ws8uk]

Looks good

[@CichlidBros]

Thanks!

[@sapphirestar4027]

The dumb & dumber reference had me from the start. I can't stop laughing 🤣

[@CichlidBros]

Haha love it

[@papasmerf6453]

So jealous. Awesome job. Man I would love a couple of those EBAs.

[@CichlidBros]

Thank you! They’ll be at some local fish stores soon

[@SupraFootwear2013]

This is a fantastic setup. I would love to see you guys keep a monster cichlid on the channel such as a Dovii.

[@CichlidBros]

Thank you! Someday soon 🤙🏼

[@shivchanlakeram4234]

Love your video ❤

[@CichlidBros]

Thank you!!

[@clearwaterscrubbers7589]

🎉 Amazing!!! 🎉🎉🎉

[@CichlidBros]

👊🏻👊🏻

[@rustyfan89]

You always seem to pick the coldest nastiest days to get new tanks!, I’m guessing when winter hits the Chicagoland area there’s nothing better than sitting inside in a warm basement watching fish!

[@CichlidBros]

Haha very true! And you bet

[@user-ew1hx1ye2u]

Does chester have extra toes!?

[@CichlidBros]

Haha good eye! He is in fact polydactyl

[@user-ew1hx1ye2u]

@@CichlidBros love it! We've been to the Hemingway house in key west so we fell in love with them after that lol

[@crnzsrt]

I recently found your channel and I really appreciate all the info. I was even more excited when I realized that you guys are local! That’s awesome. Good to see you guys have a great relationship as brothers 👍🏼 I also would love to buy one of your electric blue baby acaras but I couldn’t find a way to inquire about that. How can we make it possible? Thanks for all the content you guys make. I’m learning a lot from all of you. falling in love with cichlids

[@amandasteed4328]

Beautiful set up! I love all of your videos!! I have always wondered, How do you know how many fish to add? I have a plan of setting up a 90 gallon tank with a canister (filters up to 100 gallons) and either 2 sponge filters or a tidal 110. For fish, I have my heart set on central/South American cichlids, Sevrums, electric blue Acaras maybe geophagus with my blood parrot and Colombian tetras. I want them all lol but don’t want to over crowd.

[@jc49fishniner4lif7]

"AMAZING" 👍💯

[@cichlid_kings]

Like carrying a 200 # ice cube 😅😅😅 Nice upgrade fellas. Appreciate you taking us along 😎

[@CichlidBros]

Haha, Any time!

[@jeremymoore450]

Cichlid bro, That tank looks amazing so jealous I have a 8ft wall that I could put a tank on but it has my 4 ft 90 gal on it. Or even a 6ft tank would work. Lol. Thank you for the recommendation of the Catfishes for bottom feeders. I ordered them along with a chocolate cichlid and 3 Denison barbs. From the Cichlid shack. The chocolate cichlid is so cool looking he is 4 in or so and is in my tank with my jack Dempsey female and red devil female and my green severum. Beautiful fish. I have to let the Denison barbs get bigger so they are in my 55 gal to grow out a bit. My 55 gal has my EBA and Golden severum and green terror growing out. They will be going into my 90 gal when they are bigger. Appreciate this video can't wait to see the finished tank and the other projects you guys have going on.

[@CichlidBros]

Thanks for watching! Love to hear about the new fish. Glad they’re doing well!

[@normallife9363]

Some of those EBAs are getting BIG! They're gonna be breeding in that 75 gallon before you know it. CIRCLE OF LIIIIIIIFE

[@CichlidBros]

Lol yep

[@sergiocorrea1235]

Wooow beautiful peces y acuario ❤❤

[@jonclark8155]

Nice setup. I have an ai blade on my 65g saltwater and I’m not a snob I have fresh water to. I like the best of both worlds.

[@CichlidBros]

Very nice!

[@jaymilo8425]

As a side note and maybe you've tried this or not but I get the blow up sleeping camping pads that are about inch and a half thick and I set my aquariums on them and slide my tanks into my basement that way it really saves the arms and back

[@greenwatertheory-rv3te]

New tank vibes! Any plans on getting some Mlawi Trout for that new 6 footer?

[@shivamsai5068]

Hey man love from India.

[@markbee4238]

Beautiful tank and fish. I'm wondering if the large/hard shell substrate is hard for the fish to sift through and may be harder to periodically turn over to prevent stale sections near the bottom.

[@Cichlids23]

What brand are those suction cups?? Moving soon and I have 11 tanks, 2 of them are 125g's so they might be a huge help for me! thanks and Congrats on the new 135g !

[@CichlidBros]

I rented them from custom aquariums a few years ago. Ended up just keeping them since we always have new setups coming

[@norbertthoens3561]

Toll, solche hilfsbereiten Brüder zu haben! 👍 Ein Riesen-Pott, allerdings bietet die Einrichtung zu wenig Versteckmöglichkeiten für deine Chichliden.....

[@Jaydunk541]

Have you thought about using hose clamps on the tubing for extra security?

[@Nikos_aquatics]

That electric blue acara army tho!!!

[@CichlidBros]

⚡️⚡️⚡️

[@onlywei]

Awesome setup! Wondering if any of the cichlid bros are ever going to get into dwarf cichlids? Rams and apistogramma are some of my favorite cichlids.

[@CichlidBros]

Thanks! Definitely at some point soon. Getting the big tanks in place will open our options up for other setups 🤙🏼

[@Cp6uja81]

AWESOME! Which synodontis are those exactly? Sorry if you mentioned it in the video, I must have missed it.

[@CichlidBros]

Thanks! They are Synodontis petricola

[@natparisi184]

Question? I am only familiar with FX6’s. With the seamless pump how do you get the poop out which tends to stay on the bottom. The seamless has its intake on the surface???

[@donniehoneycutt164]

Awesome setup! I’m in the middle of setting up my first 75Gallon tank. And I was wondering what paint did you use to paint the back glass?

[@CichlidBros]

Thank you! I used Krylon acrylic latex black paint

[@javedkhan-yv5nm]

Awesome 👌 my dream 😍 tank also one day lots of ❤️ n happiness 😊 frm india 🇮🇳

[@CichlidBros]

Thank you so much!

[@operkoi8954]

Have you guys ever kept orange chromides before. Heard conflicting information regarding them and they are very pretty

[@MiamiObi]

Hey Troy! I am a huge fan of cichlid bros! I am inspired by your video and I want to set up a 75 gallon all male Hap/Peacock tank. Can you (or any of the other African cichlids keepers on here) please help with a stocking list for an all male peacock/hap for a 75 gallon tank. Thanks!

[@MakoyUnggoy]

I was nervous watching that tank being carried by the suction cups...Obviously you know what you're doing and must have done it a hundred times but it was still interesting to watch!

[@CichlidBros]

Yeah normally they are very reliable, but the extreme cold/fogging of the glass made it a challenge!

[@jrawles87]

Beautiful aquarium Troy@CichlidBros. I wanted to ask you, did you have to rinse the Aragonite Sand and the African Cichlid Mix. I'm still trying to figure out what kind of Carib Sea substrate that I want to use in my custom 65 gallon acrylic for the Mbunas that I want to put in there. I love that Carib Sea Sunset Gold that you have in your other tank but I also need something to help with the PH. Any suggestions are gladly appreciated.

[@CichlidBros]

Thanks! I usually don’t think you need to rinse Carib sea sand. For African cichlids, can’t go wrong with Aragonite. African cichlid mix can be cool too if you like that type

[@jrawles87]

@@CichlidBros thank you for your reply. I'm gonna figure out a way to use that Sunset Gold Sand and still keep the PH where it needs to be. Might just go with putting a media bag of crushed coral in the filter. My only problem now is to find a sponge cover to cover the the intake of the tidal 110 HOB to keep the Mbunas from spitting the sand into the filter.

[@mattjervis3411]

Just purchased the sicce sdc powerhead. Seems a bit underpowered compared to my hydors I replaced them with. For the price I was a little bummed out. But I get the piece of mind with the notifications of temp and power outages. Looking to buy the sicce sdc 6.0 pump for my 90 gallon next. Hard to swallow the 350 dollar price.

[@CichlidBros]

Sorry to hear that. I kinda have the opposite, with my wavemakers usually being turned down to about 50% power, as 100% seemed too strong of flow. The 6.0 has been great for me thus far. Definitely love all my pumps on one app too

[@lboogie738aquatics]

Awesome video bro. How many gallons is that?

[@CichlidBros]

Thanks! Roughly 135 gallons

[@amuseinthecraftroom6257]

Omg the cat! Totally being cat. I can relate.

[@KE19875]

Love the new setup, did I miss hearing the size, gallons?

[@CichlidBros]

Thank you! It’s roughly 135 gallons. With the sump adding another ~50 gallons, the full system is about 180

[@roelissuPer-321]

How much watt are the led spotligths above the fush tank and how high from the top of the fish tank?

[@CoralMan24]

tank looks great what is your preference in paint you use on the aquarium?

[@CichlidBros]

Thanks! I used krylon acrylic latex black paint. I’m sure others would work as well

[@CoralMan24]

@@CichlidBros your welcome can't wait until one of your brothers wants a coral reef tank :)

[@tazmex55]

in a Peacock/Hap tank, is there separate hierarchy for each group?

[@0ptimusprime885]

Awesome aquarium how many gallons is it

[@rpliegos]

Congratulations, the tank looks awesome and the fish all seem to be enjoying the extra space! The blue acaras also look very good on the larger tank!

[@Mistyb118]

New to the channel, I absolutely love it. Thank you for your video. I have a 9ft tank, I want to make it a planted tank and house South American dwarf cichlids. Which species can I put together and should I only have one of each species?

[@CichlidBros]

Thanks for following along! Some smaller species that work well in planted tanks: apistos, rams, keyhole cichlids, angels

[@Mistyb118]

@@CichlidBros awesome, thank you 😁

[@jeremymoore450]

I have in my planted 55 gal some Bolivian blue rams and a regular ram. You could also add kribensis as a dwarf cichlid I have one in my 20 gallon. Even some peacock Goby in there they are very unique

[@sjgomez79]

What is the part number or complete name of the african chiclid mix I tried looking up but it looks like regular substrate really like the look of the big shells

[@katrose1701]

What are the dotted catfish called ? Pretty tank !

[@CichlidBros]

Thanks! They are Synodontis petricola

[@dennispeleg7843]

Do you peacock and haps dig into the substrate with the extra crushed shells and coral, or does it slow them down from moving sand everywhere?

[@CichlidBros]

Yep, it does some. Still a little digging tho

[@user-hx3hq2bt6n]

What u use for your covers

[@pulsar150dtsi6]

Show me the over flow pipe in this new tank.

[@kristinezehren606]

Any tips for clean sand substrate in my 75 gallon red parrot cichlid tank?

[@CichlidBros]

Strong filters and good water flow (wavemakers)

[@james6901991]

Another way to make the process faster is to take water from your other tanks, that way the fish you are moving are already used to the 'old' water

[@fishyabish9557]

How you feel about having a pothos onto the tank?

[@CichlidBros]

Would like to, but my cats won’t let me