Guide
Good setups for a 100 gallon tank
100 gallons (~380 litres) is a serious footprint — room for impressive communities, multiple centrepieces, or a full cichlid tank. Use our stocking calculator to plan your combination.
- 100 gallons suits large communities, multiple centrepieces, or full cichlid setups.
- Match species to water hardness; provide structure for territorial fish.
- Cycle first, stock gradually, maintain regularly.
Community setup
Four or five schools plus centrepiece and cleanup. Twenty to twenty-five tetras, fifteen to twenty rasboras or barbs, fifteen corydoras, a pair of angelfish or pearl gouramis, and a bristlenose or larger pleco. Or add rainbowfish, discus (with careful water management), or larger schooling fish. Canister or sump filtration. Track water parameters and maintenance schedules — App-aquatic helps with multi-tank logging.
Centerpiece setup
Four to six angelfish, thirty tetras, fifteen corys, and a pleco. Or a discus community with cardinal tetras and corys. Provide height and structure. Tall tanks suit angels; discus need stable, soft water.
Cichlid setup
100 gallons is ideal for African or South American cichlids. Malawi mbuna: eight to twelve compatible species with heavy rockwork. Tanganyika: frontosa, tropheus, or shell dwellers. South American: Severums, keyholes, or a pair of oscars with dithers. See types of cichlids. Match water chemistry; overstocking can reduce aggression in some African setups. Research species carefully.
General tips
Strong filtration, weekly water changes, and cycle before stocking. Add fish in groups. Respect bioload even in large tanks.
Keep learning
Stable aquariums come from consistent testing and patient stocking. Continue with our water parameters guide, how to cycle a tank, and combining fish safely. For logging and strip scans, see App-aquatic.
Log parameters, scan strips offline, and run stocking checks with App-aquatic.
Get the free appCommunity setup?
Four or five schools plus centrepiece and cleanup. Twenty to twenty-five tetras, fifteen to twenty rasboras or barbs, fifteen corydoras , a pair of angelfish or pearl gouramis, and a bristlenose or larger pleco. Or add rainbowfish, discus (with careful water management), or larger schooling fish. Canister or sump filtration. Track water parameters and maintenance schedules — App-aquatic helps with multi-tank logging.
Centerpiece setup?
Four to six angelfish , thirty tetras, fifteen corys, and a pleco. Or a discus community with cardinal tetras and corys. Provide height and structure. Tall tanks suit angels; discus need stable, soft water.
Cichlid setup?
100 gallons is ideal for African or South American cichlids. Malawi mbuna: eight to twelve compatible species with heavy rockwork. Tanganyika: frontosa, tropheus, or shell dwellers. South American: Severums, keyholes, or a pair of oscars with dithers. See types of cichlids . Match water chemistry; overstocking can reduce aggression in some African setups. Research species carefully.
General tips?
Strong filtration, weekly water changes, and cycle before stocking. Add fish in groups. Respect bioload even in large tanks.
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