Top 5 Cichlid Tank Setups for a 75 Gallon Aquarium

In today's video, we have our top 5 list of cichlid tank setups and stocking ideas for a 75 gallon aquarium. We get asked often about different stocking options and tanks sizes for cichlids, so hopefully this video is helpful and informative.
There are a ton of great options out there, so we couldn't list everything. If we missed one of your favorite cichlid tank setups, please let us know in the comments section below, or just let us know which setup you liked most from the video!
If you're interested in any of the products mentioned in this video, feel free to check out the affiliate links below.
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Chemicals/Media
- Easy Green Fertilizer - geni.us/NAl6lK
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Thanks for watching, and we'll see you next week!

[@bgs9man]

Would love to see a 75 gallon Amazon set up describing types of plants, wood, and combination of fish to use. Great video by the way. 👍

[@montellanojavelosa6249]

been an african cichlid fishkeeper for a while, but you convinced me to start a new south american set up with your trio for my 75!

[@montellanojavelosa6249]

would 3 geophagus tapajos work?

[@biggs1485]

I miss having a fish tank & watching the fights while stoned 😂😂

[@taylorcaudil8058]

you guys are awesome, you have helped a lot getting my tank set up. sucker for new world cichlids

[@CichlidBros]

Thank you! Glad the videos have been helpful!

[@elliep66]

Great video with great ideas! Now i just need to get my hands on a 75 gallon…

[@CichlidBros]

Thank you!

[@yotaman492]

Facebook marketplace is full of them.

[@makiarn777]

I rewound and rewound this segment. I absolutely love you guys and couldn’t wait to watch it. I love south and Central American fish. Way to go catching the salvini yawning. I have seven tanks and two of them are 75’s. Severums are my favorite.

[@CichlidBros]

Awesome! Thanks for following along and watching! 🤙🏼🤙🏼

[@cichlid_kings]

Awesome recommendations. Keep up the great work guys and enjoy that time at Aquashella 😎

[@CichlidBros]

Thank you, appreciate it!

[@juliaheinritz3264]

Now I wish I had more than one Geophagus for my 75. Sorry I missed meeting you at Aquashella Chicago. Not sure if you made it but it was a first for my husband and I. We had such a good time and I learned a lot. Thanks for you video as always

[@CichlidBros]

No worries, there’s always next time! Thanks for watching!

[@dhammaboy1203]

A 75g is what you buy right before wanting to upgrade to a 150g! 😅 That said - what an awesome tank size for a variety of options if space / money dictates (as it often has for me).

[@CichlidBros]

Haha, agreed!

[@maci.valentine]

I just got a 75 after my 30 😅

[@Saturn_got_springlocked]

Awesome vid!! Getting a 75 gal soon and thought some cichlids would be cool! Never kept cichlids before and you guys have taught me so much!!

[@CichlidBros]

Thank you! Glad it was helpful. Best of luck with new tank 🤙🏼

[@Saturn_got_springlocked]

@@CichlidBros thanks!

[@paulkruger491]

Beautiful fish. Every fish was great.

[@CichlidBros]

Thank you!

[@onlywei]

Great video. I personally also like having blood parrots. Especially yuan bao parrots.

[@jasonsingh5293]

Loving the setups on your 75 gallons tanks you gave me some great ideas for my 75 thanks cichlids bro's 👍🏼👍🏼👍🏼❤

[@CichlidBros]

Awesome, glad to hear it!

[@amazingaquaticsandexotics3030]

awesome video

[@CichlidBros]

Thanks!

[@Sammiejomitchell]

Go Big Orange!

[@CichlidBros]

👊🏻👊🏻

[@SlimTim_dirty_aquatics]

I have 90 gallon reef ready aquarium over stocked with mbunuas with sump and canister filtration. Being my 90 has the same footprint as 75, just taller. Thanks for ideas if I bored of mbunuas or end getting another 75/90 gallon lol. Luv the content of this channel and helped with my addiction of cichlids lol.

[@CichlidBros]

Awesome! Glad you’re enjoying the content. Thanks for following along!

[@Fishguy13]

Great video as always! Can you do one for 55s? I have 2 empty 55s and just am scratching my head at what to try in them!

[@CichlidBros]

Thanks! Will add it to the list!

[@Fishguy13]

@@CichlidBros 🙏🏼👊🏻

[@iakovromanenko6845]

Спасибо БОЛЬШОЕ 👍🏻

[@kashifkashu7899]

Great suggestions guys...currently I have a 75 gallon aquarium with baby oscar,baby blood parrot and 3 convicts all male. Soon I need to upgrade.thanks now I know oscar can't stay in 75 gallon forever..

[@chadsimcox931]

I enjoyed the video! I’m Looking to buy a 75 gallon in the near future. I noticed you had a Jack Dempsey. I want one of those and a firemouth cichlid. I’m wondering if there would be enough room if i added a Green Terror if i have enough hiding spots?

[@johndell9733]

Is there a particular order you should add Severums, EAB’s and Geo’s into your aquarium? Wondering from an aggression standpoint if it is better for some fish to establish ground, perhaps get bigger before adding others. Great content and thank you.

[@illusion1415]

I just set up an 75g planted rainbow fish tank. Just 4 Madagascars rite now with a 20 fish School of ember tetras. Going to add other species soon. Also have an empty 75 that I’d like to do cichlids with but can’t decide which kind. I like all the types equally so it’s tough lol.

[@andreashessler838]

I have a 75 with Centrals. I have made sure to prevent pairing and not to stock anything too big or aggressive. However, one thing that I have experienced is conspecific species aggression. Stocked Sajica, Cutteri and Myrnae (all males) and they just don't get on. They are too similar.

[@GradoniusTheWise]

Great channel! I just recently re-homed a 75 gallon setup that a neighbor was selling for cheap. I have a 20 gallon and a 10 gallon so I am new to the larger tank world. The current inhabitants are a common pleco, krib, and an angelfish. My wife wants a nice peaceful tank with a wide variety of fish. I don’t know what is an appropriate stocking amount and after some research, we were thinking to add: 1 severum, 1 electric blue Acara, 2 Bolivian rams, 1 pearl Guarami a Geophagus, and maybe another krib to make a breeding pair. I am looking for feedback on if that is an appropriate stocking plan, is that to much, can I get more, maybe another Severum? Would any of these be incompatible? Thank you as I am trying to learn what is best for my new 75 gallon.

[@TR-ry1xv]

This video found me at the right time. After 5 years set up, I have 4 EBAs left in their own 75. I want to add a single severum and some geo redheads. Would it better to go down to just my paired up EBAs? If so, how many red heads? If I keep all 4, how many red heads? Thanks for the content.

[@samuelshonkwiler6281]

I love these South American cichlid and I’m working on setting up my 75 gallon tank for them. Question, what plants do you recommend keeping with them as I’ve heard they will uproot and destroy some plants. Also, would fake plants be an option?

[@sabineleffler8911]

Great video. In the south American set up with the electric blue Acara, Severum and Geophagus. Is it possible to add angelfish?

[@CichlidBros]

Thanks! Likely will work out fine

[@michaellamachia2523]

Would I be able to skip out on the severums and do geophagus sveni instead of the tapajos?

[@krzysztofkopaczewski4319]

Great💪

[@CichlidBros]

Thanks!

[@jasonmcredmond9043]

I would kill for a stocking ideas video for my 150g tall tank. 4ft long and can't find any recommendations for fish

[@myonis01]

@Cichlid Bros⁠ I love watching your videos. I am getting a 75 gallon aquarium and stand gifted to me in the future. Do you think it would be doable to have a pair of angelfish, a pair of EBA/blue acara, a pair of keyhole cichlids, and a pair of Bolivian Rams in a planted 75 with some Colombian red and blues, marble hatchetfish, and some harlequin rasboras? Or am I being way too ambitious with the types and amount of fish I would like to put? I would appreciate any input you have. Great episode. It gave me a LOT of inspiration.

[@mellowsohype]

I always come to your guys page for inspiration/tips so I thought I’d lay a question on ya! Hope you get the chance to see this. I have a 75 gallon South American tank currently stocked with A Severum, 2 EBA’s, a Blood Parrot, and a common pleco (I have plans on rehoming the pleco very soon). All of them are roughly a 1.5 years old. I’d like to add maybe a couple more fish in there without overcrowding it, what would you guys add in there if you had the choice ?

[@CichlidBros]

Thanks for following along! You could maybe add a few Geophagus tapajos, angels, or festivum. Or if you wanted schooling fish, some columbian tetras maybe. Best of luck

[@andreacasoli3371]

I think in a 75 gallon you can add also Neolamprologus brichardii (i think that is one of the most beautiful tanganyikan cichlids and is pretty small) one day I would like to keep them, another species is the Neolamprologus leleupi (a very very beautiful yellow cichlid like the yellow lab of malawis)

[@scotp6362]

I have a 75 with around 20 Brichardi and 2 tretocephalus and it is one of my favorite set ups.

[@andreacasoli3371]

@@scotp6362 I currently have a shrimp tank (and nanofishes) and a dwarf cichlid south american aquarium, but one day i wish i can keep brichardis, they are so so beautiful and in general i would like to keep african cichlids (since the water parameters for them in my area are perfect)

[@maoufreed1684]

I know you said to solo an Oscar in a 75g but what if I add a g.Severum as a tankmate will it be too crowded for them both?

[@laurak4995]

I have a 125 gallon and would love to do an all-male peacock tank. I keep reading that it needs to be overstocked - is this true? I like the amount of peacocks in your tank in the video. If it doesn't need to be overstocked, is there a general number of male peacocks that you would recommend for a 125 gal? Thank you for the awesome content!

[@jmaruthupandian3857]

Which filter is best for flowerhorn fish tank? Please

[@Alex_Aquarium]

what kind of angelfish were those black and grey ones?

[@_mister_e]

I'm very curious long term in 75-gallon I've got the trio Jack Dempsey, Convict, and Fire mouth. You've spoken many times about this trio doing good in this tank size but haven't seen a follow-up on how they've done. Do any of you 3 currently have this trio together in a 75-gallon?

[@aaron1984a]

For your geo/severum/acara tank, what would you recommend filtration wise for that set up? Currently have an fluval 407 and a two sponges.

[@CichlidBros]

Those would work great. I usually go with a midsized canister and maybe a HOB to compliment

[@aaron1984a]

@@CichlidBros thank you gents!!

[@just8bits29]

How many geos and electric blue acaras could I keep together for a 90 gallon tank? I’ve got 2 parrots, 2 feather fin squeakers, and 3 clown loaches so far.

[@johnnieg7206]

Hi, great channel. I’m from England and I am soon going to be getting a tank that’s 240 litres, dimensions 48x16x23” so I guess it’s like between a 55 and a 75 gallon from what I can tell. I really want a good sized group of Colombian tetra with some cichlids, maybe a firemouth and a blue acara, or a group of geophagus and an acara? I think the tank is not quite big enough for a Severum? Could you tell me if you think these would work and if not any other ideas to go with colombian tetras? Thanks in advance.

[@CichlidBros]

Yep, you should be fine with those combinations in a 75 gallon. The severums would be a tight fit long term tho

[@johnnieg7206]

I appreciate the reply, yeah I think I’ll go with the Colombian Tetras, Blue Acara and firemouth and see how that works out. Thanks again

[@rafameza4186]

I recently setup a 85 gallon with a green terror, bichir delhezi and a pleco L200. It’s a custom tank 200x40x40 centimeters. Any options for tank mates?

[@CichlidBros]

Here you go! kzbin.info/www/bejne/jWnOZnqtitNgsNk

[@beat_2008]

Got a 72 gallon front bow like a month ago, deciding to sell all of my young convicts ( i have 35 of them) and keep Loonie, the father and one kid, and then buy some peacocks to add (and breed with each other)

[@10tlittle]

Can you put drift wood in the tank with Central Americans I know he has some but I’ve read not to do it cause it lowers the Ph I’m not a pro like these guys is it something to really worry about??

[@CichlidBros]

Definitely not something to worry about

[@LAKERS76]

What combo would you use for a 75g?!? 1x Severum 2x EBA and 3x Geos with a schooling fish?? I won't be switching to a larger tank so these would be here for life.

[@aquariumshrimp]

Based on your experience can you do plecos with Blue Dolphins. 125 tank. Thanks in advance.

[@CichlidBros]

Yep definitely

[@KeepingItFishy]

Where did you get those suction handles to carry the tank?! Is that a green turquoise Severum!?

[@CichlidBros]

Rented from Custom Aquariums

[@MARKLINMAN1]

I have ALWAYS said, if you can fit a 75 you can fit a 90, they have the same EXACT footprint with the 90 being a bit taller. Cool video here, but GO for the 90 if you are looking at a 75. 👍🏼👍🏼

[@CichlidBros]

Very true. Only small rebuttal to that - the price increase is pretty steep from a 75 to a 90 for only the extra 15 gallons. But definitely would recommend it if cost allows!

[@MARKLINMAN1]

@@CichlidBros Agreed for SURE.

[@orangez1986]

Lot more weight in the same footprint

[@Same80s]

Would a 75g work for a single Oscar and Jack Dempsey?

[@jl-zz9zs]

My water ph is at 8 or so. Is anyone keeping these species ok in those conditions? I’ve always kept Yellow Labs, Acei, and Rustys only, for less aggression, in a 75 but would like to change it up as long as I do t have aggression issues and non agreeing water conditions.

[@ReignRapid]

Hello, for advice if i have a 75G tank with two blue acara and 5 cory catfish, can i fit a severum ? if so how many other fish would i be able to fit in tetra sense ?

[@CichlidBros]

Should be fine. I’d go with 1 or 2 max tho

[@ReignRapid]

@@CichlidBros okay thanks, I think I'd wait for a 300G aquarium before getting a severum, just a pet fish with a few complimentary fish haha

[@A_Z716]

I have Rio Nanay angels and threadfin acaras.

[@tinadoyle3803]

Hi, how many gallons in a 250L tank please ?

[@user-bx3sx2vx4t]

bro can I keep one green terror with the trio in a 90g

[@andytchir8601]

How would a solo Sveni or Altifrons do with a group of 4 or 5 Tapajos in a 75 gallon?

[@CichlidBros]

Probably would work just fine!

[@Porkchop65210]

could I do a jack dempsy, fire mouth, convict, and green phantom pleco in a 75 gallon.

[@CichlidBros]

Mostly likely would work

[@Porkchop65210]

@@CichlidBros thanks, really awsome that yall responded so fast. I have commented multiple times on channels a fraction of your size who never responded.

[@farhaaddesousa1306]

Hi troy i have a 71 gallon Already i have 2 acaras 5cm How many geos can i put because i am also getting a threadfin acara so i dont want to put to many geos cause of agression 2 x acaras male and female 3 x geos 1x threadfin 1 x red spotted deacon as the boss😅 Hope it works I had chocolate and deacon before and put 1 geo they combined and bullied the geo had to get rid of them and try again 🎉

[@CichlidBros]

That sounds like a great stocking and number of geos! Should be a great tank!

[@farhaaddesousa1306]

@@CichlidBros thank u so much for replying ⭐️

[@dennispeleg7843]

Would German blue rams and red severums work together?

[@CichlidBros]

Usually would work fine

[@john-keithgardner2802]

What about a chocolate cichlid instead of a severum with the South American cichlid tank

[@maci.valentine]

How do you keep your sand so clean

[@CichlidBros]

Good flow and filtration, consistent water changes

[@jeet7713]

It would be very kind of you, if you tell me what's the Tank Dimensions of your 150 Gallon Custom tank.

[@CichlidBros]

It’s 5x2x2 ft

[@teenaslawich1876]

Which geophagus? Looking them up on a Google I'm seeing they can get up to 11 inches? I can't put 5 or 6 of them in a 75

[@CichlidBros]

Tapajos

[@teenaslawich1876]

And one more question.. Thoughts on for a 75, 1 each: JD Convict Nicuaguran Pink tail chaleus

[@EUPERMAN]

Hey which and how many cichlids live in 37 gallon permanent? I wish can get more than 55 gallon I have no room for it

[@CichlidBros]

Depends on the species! Only a few options long term in a 37 gallon. Convict, Firemouth, apistogramma, shell dwellers, Kribensis, rams, etc. Not all together but just a few options

[@bloodyhell3769]

i have 70 gallons, would these still work?

[@CichlidBros]

Yes

[@the_quality_of_hd]

I need information about convict cichlid please 🥺🥺

[@CichlidBros]

Here you go! kzbin.info/www/bejne/nYfYmoaHo7-BqLs

[@bayou504ctcL9]

Dat firemouth need a mate 🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥ABSOLUTELY

[@CichlidBros]

Haha thanks!

[@santosvillarreal5559]

Hola Que pez es este ?2:27

[@jjaqzi]

What is that debris floating around in the tank?

[@CichlidBros]

Which tank? We show many in the video. It’s likely leftover food so the fish come out to film

[@24ghosh24]

how about a wild discus tank

[@CichlidBros]

Yep, that’d be a nice setup

[@jeffreytrespeces4708]

Is a 75 big enough for a chocolate cichlid?

[@CichlidBros]

Similar to the Oscar, it might be the bare minimum size for an adult long term. They get pretty big

[@kennethrobinson3862]

I’m getting a 65….. guess I can just scale it down to around 5 fish….. a severum, 1 EBA and 3 tapos?

[@CichlidBros]

Yep should be fine

[@mandyjohnson8831]

I have a heavily planted 75 gallon with one angelfish, 7 synodontis petricola catfish, a couple of SAE's and a few guppies (which can be moved to another tank). I am very interested in the 4th tank you listed. Which fish are the small orange one with side stripe, turquoise with red stripe on the dorsal fin, and large silvery fish with a black spot on the side? Those three fish are beautiful and would love to add all three to my tank if possible. Thanks!

[@naneop2553]

75 is annoying size. it’s technically big but not really big enough for anything. I’m just going to build a 200 gallon tank😂

[@CichlidBros]

It’s big enough for everything we mentioned.