Guide

Good setups for a 300 litre tank

300 litres (~80 US gallons) is a serious footprint — room for impressive communities, multiple centrepieces, or a full cichlid setup. Use our stocking calculator to plan.

⏱ 3 min read 📐 Stocking 📅 Updated March 2026
Quick answer
  • 300 litres 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 parametersApp-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

300 litres 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.

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.

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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 — 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?

300 litres 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.

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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