Both the aquarium water and the tap water need to be tested. Although you may be confident that you know what parameters need to be changed in your tap water to make it suitable for your aquarium, check it regularly to ensure that the water composition hasn’t changed.  Tap water can vary greatly, so it's important to always check yours. Typically, tap water will be alkaline in pH and will likely contain either chloride or chloramine. Keep in mind that tap water can also be hard or soft, which will greatly effect the water's makeup. Make sure that you also test your tap water for sediment before you add it to the aquarium. If you can see sediment in the water or if the water is red-brown color, wait until the problem is fixed before adding it to your tank. This can happen after large rainstorms or if there has been repair work on the pipes. Check the ideal pH level for your type of aquarium with your water testing kit. If the pH is too high or too low, you can make adjustments using pH products that are sold at fish or aquarium supply stores.  Maintaining an ideal pH is one of the most important parts of having the right water quality in your aquarium. Vary rarely, you may need a slightly lower pH for certain wild fish or to maintain proper levels of carbon dioxide in a planted aquarium. However, this isn't common. Ammonia is produced in all aquariums due to fish food breaking down and waste. Higher levels of ammonia can be toxic for the fish in your aquarium. Use products that are specially designed to detoxify ammonia in aquariums to reduce the level of ammonia if necessary. You can purchase these ammonia-reducing products from fish and aquarium supply stores. Use these products when you establish your aquarium and whenever you add or replace the water. Although nitrite is less harmful to fish than ammonia, it can still present problems in aquariums, particularly for tropical fish. The nitrite level in new aquariums typically begins to rise once the ammonia level starts to decrease. To reduce the amount of nitrite in the aquarium, use a product that detoxifies both ammonia and nitrite. However, if your nitrite levels are very high, change the water.  In most cases, you won't have issues with high nitrate levels if you maintain your aquarium and change your water biweekly. When changing the water in an aquarium, never replace the full volume all at once as this can cause the fish to go into shock. Instead, replace 25% to 30% of the water each week. Nitrate is less harmful than ammonia and nitrite for fish, however, it still plays a large role in the overall functioning of your aquarium. Change the water consistently and at scheduled intervals to help reduce the nitrate levels.  You want your nitrate levels to be as low as possible. Very high nitrate levels might cause excessive algae growth.

Summary: Test your tap water weekly to get accurate readings. Maintain a pH of approximately 7.0 – 7.8 to keep your nitrogen cycle stable. Keep the ammonia reading below 0 parts per million (ppm). Reduce the nitrite level to below 0 ppm. Aim for the nitrate level to be between 10 ppm and 40 ppm.


Before adding the apples to your tobacco, you have to remove the core and any seeds before blending the apples.   You can prepare your apples while you’re soaking the tobacco. Cut the apples into fourths and make sure that you remove the core, seeds, and the stem. Be careful that you don’t chop or cut the apples into even pieces. A food processor is best because it will give you a nice consistency that is in-between apple sauce and apple chunks. Let the apples simmer on a medium low heat.  Cooking the apple mix will remove moisture. You don’t want a lot of water in your apples because the moisture will make it harder for the shisha to burn. The amount of time you heat the apples is somewhat subjective. You don’t want to burn the apples so keep an eye on the pan. Glycerol is an organic compound sometimes called glycerin or glycerine. Glycerin is used to absorb any water from your ingredients.   The glycerin will help to bind your apple mixture with your tobacco mixture. But it will also reduce the chance of your shisha burning quickly and unevenly. Glycerine can even increase smoke production as it creates puffy white clouds when vaporized. While glycerine can produce smoke, add a bit of sugary flavor, and act as a preservative, it isn’t necessary to use in your shisha. However, many shisha brands use it so the shisha lasts longer and it can help you get your apple shisha to a good consistency. You’ll want to use vegetable glycerine or glycerine made for shisha.

Summary: Cut the apples into fourths and remove the core from each piece. Put the apple pieces into a food processor or cut into very small pieces. Heat the apples briefly in a saucepan to remove any moisture. Cool the apple mix and add glycerin.


The latest versions of Chrome have streamlined the user switching process significantly. Clicking the active user's name allows you to sign in with another Google account, which will load all of that account's bookmarks and stored passwords in a new Chrome window.  You will need to have signed in with your base account first using the previous method.  Click here for instructions on updating Chrome. This will open a small window with all of the available users. If you don't see this option, perform the following steps:  Click the Chrome Menu button (☰). Select "Settings". Check the "Enable user creation from the profile manager" box in the "People" section. You can sign in with the Google account you want to add to Chrome. A new Chrome window will appear with the user's name in the upper-right corner. Once you've added an account, you can quickly switch between them by clicking the active name in the upper-right corner. Each account will open in a separate window.

Summary: Click the user name in the upper-right corner of the Chrome window. Click "Switch person". Click the "Add person" option. Sign in with the account you want to add. Open the profile manager to switch between active accounts.


Many people enjoy eating pumpkin seeds raw. They're a fairly nutritious food as they are rich in fiber and a good source of magnesium, copper, selenium, and zinc. If you're vegetarian or vegan, pumpkin seeds can be a healthy snack as they're rich in protein.  Most people can eat pumpkin seeds without a problem, especially if the shells are fully removed. However, if there are small traces of shells remaining on the seeds, you may get a slight stomach ache. If you're serving pumpkin seeds to kids, it's a good idea to be extra cautious about removing the shell to prevent choking. There are many different ways you can prepare pumpkin seeds. One way is to fry them in olive oil. Spread out some olive oil over a frying pan. How much you will need depends on how many seeds you are frying, but it should be enough to coat the pan.  Allow the oil to heat for a few minutes and then throw in your seeds. Cook the seeds over the oil until they begin to make a popping noise. From here, add about a tablespoon of table sugar. Continue frying until the seeds pop again. Remove the seeds from the heat, let them cool, and enjoy. You can also roast the pumpkin seeds in an oven heated to 375 degrees Fahrenheit. Then lay the seeds out on a baking pan.  If you like your seeds plain, you can put them in the oven as is. Some people prefer to sprinkle them with curry powder, chipotle flakes, or cayenne pepper. Clove, cinnamon, or nutmeg can be used for sweet pumpkin seeds. Bake the seeds for about 20 minutes, or until they're golden brown.
Summary: Have the seeds as a snack raw. Fry the pumpkin seeds. Roast the pumpkin seeds. Finished.