I've got a tank and had a few others before I moved as well.
Kuhli Loaches are pretty cool, but you won't see them most of the time. Mine tended to burrow in the substrate and stay there unless they needed food. They're fast as hell, too.
If you're going the fresh water route (which it sounds like you are by your fish choices) I'd recommend making a Cichlid tank. They're more colourful and active than most other freshwater fish, but they are very aggressive so they can't be put with many other kinds of fish; Only loaches and Plecos and Catfish species are safe with them IIRC. Some Cichlid species are very cool looking.
If you do things right, there are a couple cichlid species that can co-exist with other kinds of fish, too, like Kribensis. They are territorial, though, and will defend their 'home,' especially if they spawn. Also, don't have any more than one pair of them in the tank or they will kill each other.
I have a few shrimp in my tank... not sure how many anymore because I almost never see them; they spend 100% of the time in the tank in hiding. I think they know they're food. LOL
By far my favorite fish in our tank is Gumpert. He's either a Pleco or a small Catfish species, I'm not sure which because I can't find any other examples like him. He's fast as hell, too, and pretty ugly. Thus the name.