Loading Models ?

G''day all, All i do is ask stupid qiuestions on these forums, but all who reply have helped me so much!!! Thanks. I have another one. I am doing my second assignment for computer graphics, (we have to make a room with a fishtank and a fish in the fishtank, blah blah). Instead of ''hardcoding'' my models into my program, i was thinking of using a 3d modeler and reading the data in. I have used 3d modelers before, but i''ve never read in a model to use with OpenGL. Im quite confident i can do this.. given some time... but what is a good, quick to learn, 3d file format? If you know of any freeware/shareware modelers with a good file format. plz let me know If this is the wrong approach, let me know also Cheers!! Muncher