Good choice of topic, Catfish! Really gets the creative juices going!
Personally I'd go for the biggest bow front tank possible, sand substrate, lush planting (lots of big Vallis), CO2 system...oh yeah, might even put some fish in, lol! A load of South American puffers methinks. As we're talking fantasy tanks, also loads of Amano and bumble bee shrimp that wouldn't get eaten...Ever.
P.S. What is the correct term for groups of these animals? the puffers I would like to think are a "school" as they do actually seem to school, but what about the shrimps? A swarm? A flock? A pack? As it's fantasy don't get weighed down with the practicalities I suppose.