Top, Middle And Bottom

[faildeadly]

There seems to be a lot of talk when stocking about having a balanced tank fish-wise (ie. having fish on the top, middle and bottom sections of the tank) But I have to say, from a complete novice point of view that is proving relatively hard to do, particularly in a smaller tank. Firsty, the information just isn't there in the research. When looking up fish profiles, right under Species, Size and Lifespan there should be another label: 'Tank Level:' it would help make understanding where to put the fish much easier. Secondly, splitting the tank into 3 sections is much harder with a small tank, (mine's just 20 US Gallons, I use this figure as it's a nice round number!) With only 20 inches of fish (roughly) to play with, spreading that over the whole tank is easier said than done.

Any advice on how to achieve or get around this?

 

[N0body Of The Goat]

The levels that a fish swim at do become much clearer in deeper tanks, that is for sure. But upper water fish in my experience will almost always stick to the upper water, things like...

African Butterfly Fish
Golden Wonder Killifish
Pencilfish (at least my Beckford do)
Hatchetfish

 

[Moby-Krib]

I'm fairly certain if the question was asked it is haunting you.
Now I will not answer it but I may help push it to the top, My personal favorite fish , "African rift lake spices" would fill all, till they killed the rest of your fish.
yet a communal fish tank wouldn't.
is there a lvl you need filled ? , one that inst, or would you just want to put more fish in?

all are viable questions.
Goat didn't really answer that did he? But wait? You weren't specific either,you ask for an easy to read list that doesn't exist, yet a detailed explanation would get you a detailed response.
Ask and you shall revive, vague and wonder...

 

[faildeadly]

I'm sorry Moby, I'm not sure what you're trying to say???

 

[Moby-Krib]

I'm sorry Moby, I'm not sure what you're trying to say???

Sigh, yeah I'm a tard sometimes,


which lvl are you trying to fill, if there is even a need to actively do so?
my responce is geared to the lucidity of the original question.
touche

 

[faildeadly]

Ah right, I see.

It's a new tank, and I've yet to source my fish, I'm still in the research stage. It's just so diffiuclt trying to work out what goes where with what else!

So essentially I was wondering if someone could maybe suggest some fish that are suited at each level. Although the tank is only 13" deep, do levels even exist at that depth?

 

[Moby-Krib]

fair enough and I witdraw , sorry thought i saw a windup. yet not, my bad
been drinkinking so I shall take leave.

 

[Alm0stAwesome]

Wow...this has gotten strange lmao

What fish are you leaning towards faildeadly and then we can maybe suggest some compatabile tankmates?

 

[faildeadly]

So far, I've taken a shine to three species. The panda corys, the coment swordtails and green tiger barbs. I know though that these aren't compatible as a group and that to stock them all together would easily overstock the tank. But when you add in 'levels' my brain just goes to mush!

 

[fluttermoth]

To be fair, most fish will go into different areas of the tank; even my hatchets sometimes go down to the bottom third (especially in the evening, for some reason!).

Obviously the panda cories are more on the bottom, the swordtails, like most livebearers will be nearer the top; the tiger barbs would be the middle, but they're not compatible with cories, IME.

 

[faildeadly]

So what could I use to fill the middle section?

 

[fluttermoth]

What are the dimensions of your tank, OP? And is your water hard or soft?

 

[faildeadly]

Soft water, tank is 24" x 13" x 13"

 

[Alm0stAwesome]

lol well with bottom dwellers you've got your corys, khulis, plecos and dwarf chiclids (rams, apistos, kribs)

There are very few that live at the top 100% of the time. Some of the ones that do spend all of their time at the top have been mentioned. Fish in the anabantoid group (bettas and gouramis) will spend some time at the top but do use the whole tank. Guppies and especially endlers tend to spend quite a lot of the time at the top of the tank but again will use the whole tank.

Tetras like cardinals and neons are low/middle - middle dwellers and most tetras are middle dwellers. Rasboras are middle/upper - middle dwellers.

The majority of other fish will use the whole tank or be middle dwellers. Pretty much all schooling fish hang out in the middle.

Does that help?

Tiger barbs are very nice but people have had problems with their agression. In a 20g tank I'd think if you wanted them you should probably just get a nice group of them and then maybe something for the bottom of the tank. they do grow quite chunky as adults.

Swordtails are compatible with a wide range of fish so if you wanted them as your "main" fish you'd still have a lot of options. You dont have to try and stock your tank in layers so that there's something fully occupying each section. It's just something to consider because you could put a whole load of say danios in the tank and according to the cm to L rule you're not overstocked but to have all of those fish in the same area of the tank would be crowded for them. Make sense?

 

[faildeadly]

Yep. Thanks.