The game per se doesn't have levels. Do you mean a level 2 tank research environment? You have to purchase it for $500 (I think that's how much it was.) Then you have to wait a few hours (depending on your game speed) and the research will eventually finish, and it will be at level 2. Then you can try for more exotic fish.
The same thing for the food research and the advertising research. They are independent of each other, and have to be paid for and researched.
cheezfri