acidpope

I'm thinking of fish for my soon to be 38g aquarium (artificial plants). Just thought I'd run it by people first. I'm going to be trying my hardest to set up a upper/mid/lower community of peaceful fish, so the whole aquarium has something happening in it. If there is any conflicts I don't know about, by all means. Also feel free to suggest some compatable fish you know of. Just please no live bearers. As much as I love the way they look and how they're great community fish, I have no desire for breeding.

Upper
Rasbora-Harlequin
Barbs [The peaceful kind. Mainly looking at Cherry or Gold. But I'm a huge fan of the Green Tiger and if there are no conflicts would love some of these.]
Tetra
*Gourami-Non Aggressive

Lower
Corydoras-Any (These have to be my favorite fish I've come across. Their welfare will control what I place in my tank.)

All over
Upside-Down Catfish (Wouldn't mind these guys, but my aquascaping might not be up their ally, so I'll prolly hold off.)

*I've read some water conditioning products can have lethal effects on these guys because of their Labrynth Organ. What should I stay away from?

TFA101

I believe one was Melafix, a medicine thing. I THINK, dont listen to me much when it comes to that subject.

As for the fish idea, I've come up with this stock:

3 Red-eye tetras
3 lemon tetras
3 Corydoras catfish of your choice as long as it doesn't exceed 3.5" in length, or is not a dwarf species like harbrosus or pygmaeus
1 Dwarf gourami- you'd most likely end up getting a male, they are the most widepread gender of gourami

Barbrella

A school of Rasoras, a gourami, some corys and a bunch of Cherry and/or Gold Barbs would be great and this should ensure a lively, yet peaceful tank.

I do not trust Tiger barbs with corys.

For the barbs, make sure you have at least 2 females for every male.

sirdarksol

I've had no problems with more males than females with my gold barbs.

If you wanted livebearers, you can simply get only males.

So, starting at the bottom up:
3 cories (9 inches) I would suggest at least three, and a hardier breed. I've had decent luck with peppered cories
6 Harlequins (12 inches)
1 Blue Gourami (6 inches)
This leaves you with around 11 inches of adult fish. You could have a small school of tetras (smaller ones like neons, cardinals, etc...), 4 gold barbs (Fishlore says they do better in groups of five, but it's my experience that gold barbs will fairly readily school with other schooling fish, and do okay as long as they've got other tankmates), or some similar grouping of fish.

Blub

As sir said - if you want Livebearers try only males! I only advise keeping female livebearers if you want babies.

I would like to point out that you will find that corys are more 'glass dwellers' because all the corys I've kept tend to 'fly' all over the glass more often than sit on the bottom.

I think 6 corys (Or 8 panda corys since the yare smaller than most), 6 Harlequins, 6 CHerry barbs and the Gourami would be a nice community! I have often tried to create cmmunitys where all the fish stay at different levels - but I find they love to disobey us and the only 'obedient' fish when it comes to water layers is Hatchets!

Barbrella

I should have clarified I was referring to Cherry barbs. The males are much harder on the females than Gold barbs.

Blub

I have 1 male Cherry 4 female cherrys and he never shows any sign of aggresion to them.

Barbrella

By "hard on them" I don't mean aggression. I mean the males constantly pester and chase the females to get them to spawn.

Blub

I know. My male is like a crimson female - no pestering or anything. Maybe he's just a dorky male I've got.