so everyone on this site seems wonderful, smart, and enthusiastic. i have a 240 gallon tank with 6 oscars size 4 to eight inches (all bought at the same time, go figure)and an 8 inch sail fin pleco. i bought all this in june of 2007. actually boyfriend bought it for me and didn't know he created a monster. also have an 80 gallon that has two dempseys, 7 tiger barbs, a 6 inch silver tipped shark (catfish), and a pleco. odd combo, but the dempseys were tearing my oscars apart so..... so far so good. not a permanent solution but will do for now. have a 30 gallon with two gold gouramis and two dwarf gouramis. all good there. also have a 20 gallon with 5 platys, two dwarf gouramis, neon blue. also just have accumulated about 40 platy fry in there. hmmmm. food for the oscars maybe if i have the heart. the 240 gallon has 4 rena xp4 filters, overkill perhaps but better than underkill. the 80 gallon has a rena xp3, seems to do the job but i may add another just for more overkill. 30 gallon has a biowheel and i will add a fluval to it although i do not like fluval at all...it was free though. 20 gallon has whisper 60. will probably add a fluval too cause i tend to overdo things. and so far as i can tell, that is good with aquariums. i work three 12 hour shifts a week which allows me to do bi weekly water changes on all of these. i am from pittsburgh originally so living out here in the desert, i really enjoy getting elbow deep in the water. one more thing i would like to express to all of you. my niece got married this past fall. she had her reception at the pittsburgh aquarium. if any of you have a celebration coming up, check your local aquarium for a possible location. it was absoulutely a wonderful setting. and all proceeds there went towards the aquarium. imagine sitting around a huge tree with a chest high aquarium covering about 11000 square feet. then there was the penquin area...and eating filet mignon while watching hammerheads swim around...the salt water tank was four stories high...i came home trying to convince my boyfriend that we could put a 15 by 20 foot aquarium in our living room...imagine the neighborhood driving by our bay window and seeing fish swim by!! okay, so i said he created a monster. so thanks for listening to my formal intro, i've really appreciated your advice because up until now that is the only time i've been on here, and you've all been great and prompt in your replies. if i can offer any advice i will. take (tank)care all!!!!!

oh yeah, not the least important, but forgot to mention...i also have two dogs, two cats, two red eared slider turtles, 6 pond goldfish, and a paul. thank god the paul makes good money while i am in nursing school or there would be quite a few homeless animals and fish.

Sounds as if you've got your work cut out with all your tanks. Your pick tank certainly has some good filtration and no, there's no such thing as too much filtration. Oscars are messy critters so the more filtration you've got the better you will be. Sounds like you had a really good reception, I probably spend more time looking at the fish them actually doing anything else.

Anyway, one question, have you ever heard of paragraphs before?

yeah, i've heard of paragraphs. just so excited to share with ya'all. it really is a shame how email has really assaulted the english language. i just wanted to say hola and it turned into a big run on...again!!!! it is to the point that when i call someone on the phone, i feel ripped off because they actually answer the phone. have a great week!!!

you the man...or woman?

sorry again about the paragraph thing. just so happy to talk about what excites me to other people who feel the same.

i am the female nurturing part of any relationship. and you?

not that it matters. it's all about the fish, eh?

LMAO! My first thought was I was impressed how a new member made it to 11 posts while I was sleeping, but I quite see why

Welcome to the site!

Girl, if you go on like this it's gonna take me all day to read and understand all the posts and I can call myself then joblessinde or so
What I got out of it now is that you've got a whole bunch of fish and other pets incl. a paul and that, should I ever marry again, I shall celebrate it at the pittburgh aquarium.

Enjoy your stay here, and I know what you mean about being able to talk about what excites you, I don't know anyone where I live who wouldn't start rolling eyes at some point when it comes to me talking fish.