Aquarium Harmony

There are a few things you need to keep in mind when choosing the types of fish to stock your aquarium. To start out with lets focus on the appearance of your tank. Some fish tend to stay near the bottom of the tank, these are typically your corydoras, catfish, and a few cichlids.

 

Other fish are schooling fish, they tend to stay near the middle of the tank, such as rainbow fish, tetras, barbs. There are lots of different types of tetras and gouramis, they tend to vary between middle and top water habitats, depending on the species.

The top level habitats are best for schooling fish as well, such as hatchetfish, danios, rasboras. There are a few livebearing fish that like the top level also, the most well known would be the guppy, there is also the sail-fin molly, and black mollies. Before you get your heart set on black mollies you should probably know they require alot of attention and specific water requirements.

This leads to how to chose the types of fish you should have in your aquarium.  How much time do you plan on investing in taking care of your fish and their home? You are their sole provider of their needs, if there is something wrong with any aspect of their environment you are responsible. Some fish are much more hardy, and require less attention. They are able to adapt to water changes, and differences in temperature. Other fish, are much more needy, they require specific temperature, the right pH levels, dH levels, nitrates, ammonia. All of these things must be taken into account when choosing the type of fish you want to include in your fishtank.

You will also need to determine if the fish you choose require the same living conditions. Fish that like cooler temperatures aren't going to thrive in a tank that is warmer, because you have fish that need a warmer climate. This also includes the aspects of water dH levels, (how soft or hard the water is), nitrate levels, ammonia levels, pHs. So many factors can vary in an aquarium, and fish are susceptible to these conditions.

Another aspect of choosing fish, will they get along. It's not a good idea to have an aggressive fish in a tank with docile fish. Certain species get along better than others. I personally have found that the order in which you place the fish into the tank, has alot to do with how they behave. It's almost territorial. HINT: Place your more docile fish into your tank first, then the more aggresive fish will be less likely to dominate and terrorize them because they weren't there first. This will only be effective if your fish are likely to get along in the first place.