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Home » African Cichlids » Lake Malawi » wanting to change tank agine
wanting to change tank agine [message #8964] Wed, 05 March 2008 16:04 Go to next message
daowner is currently offline daowner  
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Registered: April 2007
Location: baltimore maryland
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ive been away for a bit between work and all and the fact that my personal computer broke but im back for nowthis is what i have 55 gal tank 9 fish atm

im thinking of redoing the entire tank and all i want to chage the substate to sand unless anyone has something that would be better and if i go with sand what kind should i get or does it matter

also i think i want to upgrade my filter from HOB to a canister i was thinking of the fx5 so id have plenty of filtration if i decide to upgrade in the future right now i have a bio wheel and a whisper 60 i belive and 2 power jets

not sure on that else i want to do if any one has suggestionsjust post them thanks

55 gal cichlid tank
30 gal hostpitle/fry tank
180 gal cichlid tank still in process of cleaning all stuff for it
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Re: wanting to change tank agine [message #8965] Wed, 05 March 2008 20:13 Go to previous messageGo to next message
Malawi Mother is currently offline Malawi Mother  
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Registered: February 2007
Location: Phoenix AZ
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I recently got a 125 aquarium with Tahesion sand. I am sure I spelt that wrong, but it is great. My fish love it. They suck it up into their mouths and then you see it coming out their gills. They travel it throughout the whole tank like that. It's quite cool to watch. They also swoop down and skim through the sand like a third baser sliding into home. After it's combed, it looks really cool too. I use a small plastic childs rake for that. As far as the filter goes, the one you mentioned sounds great. Canisters are nice because there is less maitenance. I have one on each aquarium and will never go back to HOB. There are all kinds of sand to chose from. Can't help you out with which is best. Sorry.

Oh one more thing, with the powerheads, you have to keep them some what high as well as the canister filter intake. They will suck the sand up and destroy the impellar. I put little sponges over the bottoms of the powerheads to help prevent the sand from going in so I can put them down a little lower into the tank.

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Re: wanting to change tank agine [message #8979] Fri, 07 March 2008 20:55 Go to previous messageGo to next message
daowner is currently offline daowner  
Messages: 175
Registered: April 2007
Location: baltimore maryland
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thanks for the responce MM i am trying to find a white sand i think that would look good and set off ther colors and i like the white sand in tanks that i have seen i might be getting a larger tank in the near future so i might do sand and all in the new tank just waiting on the right deal to pop up on cragislist

55 gal cichlid tank
30 gal hostpitle/fry tank
180 gal cichlid tank still in process of cleaning all stuff for it
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Re: wanting to change tank agine [message #8980] Fri, 07 March 2008 21:11 Go to previous messageGo to next message
Malawi Mother is currently offline Malawi Mother  
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Thats where I got my 125. Did you see it? It's in the pictures. Just look for my name on the right. It has the white sand with the black painted back. It is gorgeous. I am so in love with this tank. Get some nice bright colored plants, the good ones, fake of course unless you are planning on doing a planted tank. I forgot now what you said you had in it. I have three real plants and three fake now. But the one with the red flowers on it was 16.00 but it was so worth it because up against the black back, it looks beautiful. (it's fake)

Go check it out if you haven't already.

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Re: wanting to change tank agine [message #8982] Fri, 07 March 2008 23:32 Go to previous messageGo to next message
daowner is currently offline daowner  
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yea i dont have any plants in my 55 now they keep on digging them up and it got to be a pain just rocks and suck in there for now and all my algea lol

55 gal cichlid tank
30 gal hostpitle/fry tank
180 gal cichlid tank still in process of cleaning all stuff for it
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Re: wanting to change tank agine [message #8983] Sat, 08 March 2008 13:58 Go to previous messageGo to next message
daowner is currently offline daowner  
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Location: baltimore maryland
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well i fould and tank on cragis list and i dont think they are realy asking much for it heres the link but now my sisters saying she dont want a damb aquarium in here house but i dont know now heres the links anyways

http://baltimore.craigslist.org/hsh/599395542.html

just wondering if thats a good deal

55 gal cichlid tank
30 gal hostpitle/fry tank
180 gal cichlid tank still in process of cleaning all stuff for it
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Re: wanting to change tank agine [message #8984] Sat, 08 March 2008 19:58 Go to previous messageGo to next message
daowner is currently offline daowner  
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Location: baltimore maryland
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guess they alreay sold that one so i found this 150gal tank no filter just stand tank and lights for 300 obo

http://baltimore.craigslist.org/for/597526096.html

55 gal cichlid tank
30 gal hostpitle/fry tank
180 gal cichlid tank still in process of cleaning all stuff for it
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Re: wanting to change tank agine [message #8985] Sat, 08 March 2008 21:55 Go to previous messageGo to next message
Malawi Mother is currently offline Malawi Mother  
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300 is a good deal for 150 gal plus the lights. I would however ask if those are plant lights. They look like they probably are because the water has a green tint to it. It is possible that the green tint is from algae growing on the glass.
I have plant bulbs and don't like the way the tank looks with the green tint. That is something you may want to think about. Some people like the natural way the plant lights looks and some don't. You can always change the light bulbs if you don't like that color. It's still a good deal as the strips alone are very expensive.

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Re: wanting to change tank agine [message #8986] Sat, 08 March 2008 22:04 Go to previous messageGo to next message
Malawi Mother is currently offline Malawi Mother  
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P.S. Something else to think about before you buy it. This will probably be the very last tank you buy for quite some time right? Is it really what you want? It does appear to be a 4 foot tank which means it's going to be wider and higher and also means much heavier as the glass will undoubtly be thicker. As aquariums get higher, the glass also gets thicker. Now I am not trying to be negative, just making you think a little. It's a huge tank, are you sure you don't want the six feet long tank? I say if you are going to spend 300 dollars on a tank, make sure it's exactly what you want even though it is a good deal but it's used and coming from craigslist. I bought the 125 from craigslist and paid 250 for it with the sand, glass tops, and hand made stand. It didn't come with lights or filter or anything else. But I knew it was the right tank for me after having two other tanks that were already 4 foot long. I wanted the longer one yet. Just giving you something to think about. Would hate to see your spend that money and then 6 months from now you come back saying, I wish I had gotten a 6 foot long tank. You have to be happy with what you got.

But I still think its a good tank for the price.

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Re: wanting to change tank agine [message #9015] Sun, 09 March 2008 10:14 Go to previous messageGo to next message
daowner is currently offline daowner  
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yea your right i think im going to wait and see if i cna find a tank that is 6ft long and at least 2ft wide

55 gal cichlid tank
30 gal hostpitle/fry tank
180 gal cichlid tank still in process of cleaning all stuff for it
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Re: wanting to change tank agine [message #9016] Sun, 09 March 2008 10:27 Go to previous messageGo to next message
Malawi Mother is currently offline Malawi Mother  
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I think the standard width for a 6 foot long tank is 18 inches.
I could be wrong.. Im sitting here looking at mine which I know is standard, and can see it's deffinetly not 2 feet wide.

Just be patient, the right tank will come along. Just remember you will need a stand for it and that is something you can work on now while your waiting for the right tank. Remember it has to be very strong to hold all that water and a dresser is not going to cut it. Not unless it's made from solid oak or something and has lots and lots of support. Good luck in your search.

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Re: wanting to change tank agine [message #9020] Sun, 09 March 2008 13:04 Go to previous messageGo to next message
daowner is currently offline daowner  
Messages: 175
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yea well all the ones thati have found either come with a metal or solid wood stand so im hopeing thats what ill find when i do find one or ill have to build one

55 gal cichlid tank
30 gal hostpitle/fry tank
180 gal cichlid tank still in process of cleaning all stuff for it
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Re: wanting to change tank agine [message #9030] Sun, 09 March 2008 17:46 Go to previous messageGo to next message
daowner is currently offline daowner  
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well someone just posted another tank its 180 gal i sent him email asking what kind of filters and the dementions of the tank and stand and it comes with 4 filters 2 heaters stand tank gravel tons of rocks and stuff he said so im waiting on email no pics yet hope he can e mail me some tell me what you time mother heres link
http://baltimore.craigslist.org/for/600626394.html

55 gal cichlid tank
30 gal hostpitle/fry tank
180 gal cichlid tank still in process of cleaning all stuff for it
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Re: wanting to change tank agine [message #9031] Sun, 09 March 2008 17:54 Go to previous messageGo to next message
daowner is currently offline daowner  
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well if i even get a big tank does any 1 know how much weight my upstairs floor can hold? cuzi think 180 gal jsut water would be liek 1500 lbs not including stand tank

55 gal cichlid tank
30 gal hostpitle/fry tank
180 gal cichlid tank still in process of cleaning all stuff for it
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Re: wanting to change tank agine [message #9034] Sun, 09 March 2008 18:50 Go to previous messageGo to next message
Malawi Mother is currently offline Malawi Mother  
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1 gal of what weighs 8.5 lbs.

18 0
x8.5
-----
1530 lbs of water

plus stand, sand, rocks, weights of tank is probably 100 lbs easy. The stand will weigh 100 lbs if wood and less if it is metal.

you are looking at approx 1800 to 1900 lbs. No it can not be on an upstairs floor. Upstairs floors are made of wood. Unless you put it in a corner which I doubt you would be able to fit a retangle tank in a corner. Can you put it downstairs? If not you may have to consider a smaller tank. Also if you rent, your landlord will probably have a problem with a tank that size upstairs due to possible leaks and flooding.

All stuff to think about.

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Re: wanting to change tank agine [message #9040] Sun, 09 March 2008 20:06 Go to previous messageGo to next message
daowner is currently offline daowner  
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well its in the house my sister owns i live with her i mean my dad said its an older house he thinks it would be fine because of the ways its build but we realy dont want to take that big of a chance so im tring to talk my sister into letting me put the tank in the basement i think she might as long as its a nice looknig stand that it comes with so im just waiting for the guy to email me back im gonig to try and offer him 500 cash see what he does if not ill try 550 get it a lil cheeper if i do decide to buy it

55 gal cichlid tank
30 gal hostpitle/fry tank
180 gal cichlid tank still in process of cleaning all stuff for it
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Re: wanting to change tank agine [message #9046] Sun, 09 March 2008 22:46 Go to previous messageGo to next message
daowner is currently offline daowner  
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got e mai from him no pic though hes going to send them to me from his cell phone but heres the sizes

The tank is 72"x24"x24". The stand is 72"x24" and stands about 27"-30" high. I have 2 Aquaclear 500 filters on it and 2 Magnum 350 canister filters on it


don kno much about those filter im going to look into them l8er tommorow

55 gal cichlid tank
30 gal hostpitle/fry tank
180 gal cichlid tank still in process of cleaning all stuff for it
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Re: wanting to change tank agine [message #9047] Sun, 09 March 2008 22:57 Go to previous messageGo to next message
Malawi Mother is currently offline Malawi Mother  
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Wow, that is a wide tank. I didn't think it would be two feet wide, but it is only two feet high so that's where the difference is.

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Re: wanting to change tank agine [message #9057] Mon, 10 March 2008 18:28 Go to previous messageGo to next message
daowner is currently offline daowner  
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is that a bad thing with the height? or will it still be good?

55 gal cichlid tank
30 gal hostpitle/fry tank
180 gal cichlid tank still in process of cleaning all stuff for it
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Re: wanting to change tank agine [message #9068] Mon, 10 March 2008 21:13 Go to previous messageGo to next message
daowner is currently offline daowner  
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i got my sister like 50% of the way convinced to let me place tank in basement but shes worried about her new carpet getting like flattened from all the weight on the carpet if we decide to move it or something so if any 1 has a suggestion to fix that would be great please

55 gal cichlid tank
30 gal hostpitle/fry tank
180 gal cichlid tank still in process of cleaning all stuff for it
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Re: wanting to change tank agine [message #9070] Mon, 10 March 2008 21:18 Go to previous messageGo to next message
Malawi Mother is currently offline Malawi Mother  
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No the hight is great. As far as the tank on the carpet issue, you can place another piece of carpeting with pad under it ontop of her carpet. Just remember if you do this you have to make sure that stand is steady on it with the water. If it is at all tipsy or try bumping up against it gently and see if it moves at all, if so then I would not leave it like that.
You may need some extra reinforcement. I have known people to attatch their tanks to the walls because they stood too high.
If it does work out okay, your sister will have very slight indentations on her carpet that will come back after a few good vacuums.

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Re: wanting to change tank agine [message #9093] Tue, 11 March 2008 18:28 Go to previous messageGo to next message
daowner is currently offline daowner  
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thanks i think im going to get it then jsut got to get this guys nubmer and call and talk to him and see it and everything

55 gal cichlid tank
30 gal hostpitle/fry tank
180 gal cichlid tank still in process of cleaning all stuff for it
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Re: wanting to change tank agine [message #9096] Tue, 11 March 2008 22:32 Go to previous messageGo to next message
daowner is currently offline daowner  
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well my sister wont let me put the tank in the basement so i guess i can only have for 55 gal for now but i thinking i mgiht still buy this tank since its a good deal and all for later on when i can put it some were or ill just have to wair or something

55 gal cichlid tank
30 gal hostpitle/fry tank
180 gal cichlid tank still in process of cleaning all stuff for it
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Re: wanting to change tank agine [message #9097] Tue, 11 March 2008 22:55 Go to previous messageGo to next message
Malawi Mother is currently offline Malawi Mother  
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sorry she wont let you put it in the basement.
It sounds good to get it anyways.

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Re: wanting to change tank agine [message #9098] Tue, 11 March 2008 23:00 Go to previous messageGo to next message
daowner is currently offline daowner  
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yea she comes up with reasons out her ass i swear shes like it will cost her like $60 a month for both tanks i wasl ike ill pay for that shes like well the floor will get smashed i told her i can fix it so it wont every reason she has i can get a solution but i guess she just dont care and its to heavy for in my room

55 gal cichlid tank
30 gal hostpitle/fry tank
180 gal cichlid tank still in process of cleaning all stuff for it
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Re: wanting to change tank agine [message #9099] Tue, 11 March 2008 23:05 Go to previous messageGo to next message
Malawi Mother is currently offline Malawi Mother  
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I'm so sorry. Someday you will have your own place and can have as many aquariums as you want. Just start saving everything up now for it and by the time you can set it up, you will have everything you want.

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Re: wanting to change tank agine [message #9120] Wed, 12 March 2008 19:56 Go to previous messageGo to next message
daowner is currently offline daowner  
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hey i talked to my sister she may let me put it in the basement if my brother in laws says it ok so im jsut hopeing for that to work well i did get some pictures the tank looks realy nice and the stand looks liek oak and all i got the pics on my phone if any 1 knows how to put them on here from my cell let me know

55 gal cichlid tank
30 gal hostpitle/fry tank
180 gal cichlid tank still in process of cleaning all stuff for it
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Re: wanting to change tank agine [message #9121] Wed, 12 March 2008 20:02 Go to previous messageGo to next message
Malawi Mother is currently offline Malawi Mother  
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Take a pic of the pic on your cellphone hahaha Very Happy

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Re: wanting to change tank agine [message #9122] Wed, 12 March 2008 20:03 Go to previous messageGo to next message
Malawi Mother is currently offline Malawi Mother  
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Hey I just realized I went over my 1000th message

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Re: wanting to change tank agine [message #9123] Wed, 12 March 2008 20:30 Go to previous messageGo to next message
daowner is currently offline daowner  
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grats!!! ill try and send it to a website or soemthing lols gimm e a min ill try

55 gal cichlid tank
30 gal hostpitle/fry tank
180 gal cichlid tank still in process of cleaning all stuff for it
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Re: wanting to change tank agine [message #9124] Wed, 12 March 2008 20:38 Go to previous messageGo to next message
daowner is currently offline daowner  
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here they are

55 gal cichlid tank
30 gal hostpitle/fry tank
180 gal cichlid tank still in process of cleaning all stuff for it
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Re: wanting to change tank agine [message #9125] Wed, 12 March 2008 20:40 Go to previous messageGo to next message
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No Message Body

55 gal cichlid tank
30 gal hostpitle/fry tank
180 gal cichlid tank still in process of cleaning all stuff for it
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Re: wanting to change tank agine [message #9126] Wed, 12 March 2008 20:43 Go to previous messageGo to next message
daowner is currently offline daowner  
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55 gal cichlid tank
30 gal hostpitle/fry tank
180 gal cichlid tank still in process of cleaning all stuff for it
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Re: wanting to change tank agine [message #9127] Wed, 12 March 2008 21:30 Go to previous messageGo to next message
Malawi Mother is currently offline Malawi Mother  
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Is that a marine tank? The algae is beautiful. I wish I could get green like that in my tank.

It is beautiful. I love the beaded wood on the oak cabinet. It's really a beut.

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Re: wanting to change tank agine [message #9128] Wed, 12 March 2008 21:36 Go to previous messageGo to next message
daowner is currently offline daowner  
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no when i talked to him on the phone he said that all hes had in it was south american cichlids

55 gal cichlid tank
30 gal hostpitle/fry tank
180 gal cichlid tank still in process of cleaning all stuff for it
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Re: wanting to change tank agine [message #9129] Wed, 12 March 2008 21:43 Go to previous messageGo to next message
Malawi Mother is currently offline Malawi Mother  
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Next time you speak to him, ask him how he got that algae to grow so well.

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Re: wanting to change tank agine [message #9130] Wed, 12 March 2008 21:50 Go to previous messageGo to next message
daowner is currently offline daowner  
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i sure will by the you dont get on msn mesenger?

55 gal cichlid tank
30 gal hostpitle/fry tank
180 gal cichlid tank still in process of cleaning all stuff for it
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Re: wanting to change tank agine [message #9131] Wed, 12 March 2008 22:02 Go to previous messageGo to next message
Malawi Mother is currently offline Malawi Mother  
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I have msn. I never get on because no one ever wants to talk to me on msn

what is your name on msn, do I have it already? I will check

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Re: wanting to change tank agine [message #9132] Wed, 12 March 2008 22:04 Go to previous messageGo to next message
Malawi Mother is currently offline Malawi Mother  
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No I checked I don't have it. will check your personal info.

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Re: wanting to change tank agine [message #9133] Wed, 12 March 2008 22:07 Go to previous messageGo to previous message
Malawi Mother is currently offline Malawi Mother  
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