Surface access

[gabic]

I know bettas need to have access to the free surface of the water - but how about other fish?! Do they need the access or just the O2 in the water that obviously the surcface facilitates?!

[kimmers318]

Labryinth type fish will breathe from the surface, but most fish will breathe from the water. Some of your cories will zoom to the surface occasionally and take a gulp. Research the type of fish you like to learn more about each fish.

[gabic]

Thanks, make sense.
Actually Iwas wondering about the goldfish. If you read the other post, my kids have won 3 goldfish at a festival... you see how I HAD to take them home...
Well, unfortunately now I have only 1 :(
I decided to put him in a perforated container in betta's 6-gl tank (coudn't find a separator for the bowed front tank).
Container has a perforated lid on, the whole thing is submerged... My measurements were a little off and the filter won't work unless the water level is at a certain height obviously.

I feel so guitly but really there is no room for another tank, we're trying to move too...