How to make a fake fish tank/aquarium?

Did I make a bad fish choice? I think so...?

• Alright, so I have a Dojo Loach and a Goldfish. I've had both for years, no problems, I love the cold water tank. Unfortunately though, goldfish can get boring after seven years, and after some of my older ones died off, I realized with two fish my tank was horribly empty looking. Thus began the fish hunting. I went to Petco, Petsmart, Petland, Birds and Beasts, and a specialty fish store and all of them gave me similar advice when I told them I wanted something better than a goldfish, in essence it was to get warm water fish. When I expressed my concern about the Dojo Loach in warm water (No concern for the stupid goldfish) all places told me that I the Dojo Loach is hearty and shouldn't mind a slight temperature increase, "Find Middle Ground". Weeeeell, I vetoed that idea, and started looking at fish that would survive the colder waters. In total honesty, I had been wanting a clown loach for years, and when I said this, none of the stores seemed surprised. They told me that, despite the fact that clown loaches are warm water and fairly sensitive, they have been known to live happy healthy lives in cold water, and can hold their own against the infamous goldfish. All five pet stores also assured me that since I had a loach in the tank already, I shouldn't have to buy more than two, since my tank would not hold more anyway. When I looked at them all in disbelief, one store owner even took me into his office, where he had a tank full of four five inch Clown Loaches in a tank with 69 degree water. While I was surprised, I was more surprised that he was trying to persuade me to get Clown Loaches from Petco when he owned Petland and had none in stock to sucker me into buying. Feeling sufficiently convinced, I bought two Clown Loaches, which I slowly introduced to the tank and kept an eye on. That's when I started to worry, though. At certain times, the loaches would get very close to the goldfish. They wouldn't bite or hurt the goldfish, but their gills would start working fast and they'd act skittish. Then they would go back to their normal bottom feeder behavior and an hour later they would do it all over again. They also dart around very fast, and while I know Clown Loaches are normally quick, is this normal behavior? My goldfish is old and senile and doesn't seem to care at all that they're getting in his business, but I'm worried these recently purchased expensive fish will die of stress. Is there any hope?

• Answer:

  Return them as soon as you can. If you've only got a ten gallon tank, you are already massively overstocked. Dojo loaches need 30 gallons, minimum. Goldfish need between 20 and 75 gallons depending on the species. They are high-waste producers and need powerful filters. Clown loaches need 75 gallons for a single loach, and they need groups of six. They are incredibly active and get to be a foot long, so they really do need a lot of space. They are also definitely tropical. Those petshops have given you absolutely terrible advice. Just because that guy has clown loaches in his tank doesn't mean it is the right thing to do. He's not doing right by them. It's great that your fish have lived this long, but I would strongly advise selling them to someone who can provide the homes they need and restocking with more appropriate species. Here's a link. http://theaquariumwiki.com/Stocking_a_10_Gallon_Tank. EDIT: don't wait it out. Like the other fish you have, clown loaches have a large bioload and that extra ammonia in a tank that is already really overstocked is not a good thing. That's a ridiculous policy about the water sample - what has the quality of the water got to do with it? The plain fact is, a foot-long, hyperactive fish will not fit in a ten gallon tank. If they won't take it back, with or without a water sample, kick up a stink about the terrible advice they gave and demand to talk to people in charge. Threaten to report them to the relevant consumer bodies, animal welfare groups etc and put out the word to people not to shop there. Losing customers will always hit them where it hurts.