Use a specialty algae scrubber or a lint-free cloth to gently rub the inside of your tank. Apply consistent and light pressure while making small circles on the surface. It is okay if pieces of algae fall to the sand as they will be siphoned up shortly. Resist pushing too hard on your tank as it can cause damage or make the tank possibly tip over. Place your fingers into the sand at the bottom of your tank. Gently push the sand from the bottom to the top. Repeat throughout the tank floor until all sand has been upturned. You will see that debris and deposits have settled on the surface of the sand. It is sometimes helpful to go over the sand surface one time with the siphon prior to raking. Lower your siphon until it is about ½ inch above the sand’s surface. Move the siphon in a back-and-forth pattern, holding the depth level, as you pick up debris and dirt. Target any particularly large particles. You can expect for the siphon to pick up some sand particles with this method. You can then re-rinse those particles and re-introduce them to the tank or you can throw them out. It is often a good idea to add in new sand every few weeks anyway. Take your time picking up the clean decorations and putting them back into the tank. You can follow the same pattern as before or you can mix it up with a new design. Make sure each piece is anchored and move around the freshly cleaned sand as needed. Replace the water that you removed by adding in the treated water to your tank. You can pour directly from the bucket, although that may disturb your tank and fish. A better option might be to use a jug to add the new water in slowly. You can also deflect the water with a plate as it is added in which will lower the chance of damage even more. As soon as you’ve completed the water change you can plug all of your tank appliance back in. Watch to make sure that they are operating properly before leaving the tank alone.  You may want to leave your tank light off for a few hours following a water change. This can help your fish to relax following what may have been a stressful event. Check the temperature of the replacement water with a thermometer before adding it to your tank. Both water temps should be roughly the same or you risk shocking your fish.

Summary: Scrape off algae. Rake your fingers through the sand. Remove surface debris with a gravel siphon. Replace all decor. Pour fresh water into the tank. Re-activate your heater, filter, and lighting.


Most Fourth of July nails require some time and effort, including applying different coats and using a few different tools, like a striper and dotting tool. If you don’t have the time or the tools, use a Fourth of July nail sticker kit for a cute but lower-effort look.  With a nail kit, you’ll paint one solid color and stick patriotic stickers on top. Many kits come with simple stars and stripes as well as “USA” stickers and other patriotic designs. You can buy a kit online or at craft and beauty stores. Follow the instructions in the kit to apply and remove your nail stickers.

Summary: Buy a nail sticker kit for an easier application.


Even if your site is text-heavy, it should be visually appealing to keep people from making snap judgments about the quality. If you don’t have much design sense, have an artistic friend give it the once over, ask an older relative whether or not they find the site easy to navigate, or even consider hiring a designer to work on the overall composition. Streamline every page so that people don’t get disoriented or frustrated. Avoid using elaborate fonts, numerous colors, or unnecessary graphics that slow down the page-load time (or make people think they’re looking at an over-enthusiastic PowerPoint presentation). Use the same banner at the top (and bottom, if applicable) of every page so that people can navigate your site with ease. Tie all your pages together with a color scheme so that people don’t think they’ve been mysteriously transported somewhere else with every click. Be consistent in your font usage by sticking with no more than three fonts, making section all headers the same size, all subsection headers a different size, etc. If you’re afraid that leaving white space will drive visitors away, just look at any Google page. White space helps a page look clean and uncluttered, to say nothing of the fact that it makes navigation much easier. Nobody wants to battle a wall of text.

Summary: Make the site easy on the eyes. Keep it simple. Keep a consistent theme. Embrace white space. Use short paragraphs.


After determining what type of pillow you think might be right for you, look around online. Read reviews for different pillows before going shopping, especially if you are thinking of buying a special pillow, such as an anti-snoring or cooling pillow, which can be expensive, and may not do what it claims to do. The best pillow for you may not be the most expensive one. Try out different pillows in different price ranges. Many stores that sell pillows also sell mattresses. If you can, take the pillow and lie down with it for a few minutes to try it out. This will give you a more realistic idea of whether the pillow is right for you or not. If you are unable to lie down with a pillow, try standing next to a wall in your favorite sleeping position. Place the pillow against the wall. If the pillow you are testing works with your body, your neck should be aligned with your spine. It may be difficult to tell on your own if your neck is not aligned, so bring a friend along to help you. Some stores, such as Ikea, offer the opportunity to return your pillow if you are not happy with it. Before purchasing a pillow, ask about the return policy.
Summary: Read reviews online before going shopping. Understand that price isn’t everything. Lie down with the pillow. Stand close to a wall. Ask about trial periods and money back guarantees.