Not all sands are the same. If you are using standard play sand then you can rake and siphon it without too many worries regarding tank pollution. If, however, you have a specialty planting sand you'll need to be very careful when raking as it can release ammonia when disturbed. Read the instructions and warnings carefully on the package to find out if any special handling is necessary. You can also visit your local aquarium store and talk with an expert who will advise you regarding your sand options. Some options, such as coral sand, are quite beautiful but can be dangerous to particular species of fish. If they come with a switch, turn it to the off position or simply unplug all of these devices. Your fish will be fine in the short period it will take you to complete a water change and for safety reasons it is important to not have electricity running into the tank as you handle the water. You can also take this as an opportunity to rinse out your filter pad or cartridge with cold water. You will want to do this once every two to four weeks. Dip your hand into the tank water and gently remove all decorations that you would like to clean. Wash these items in warm water scrubbing gently with your hands or a soft brush to remove all algae and debris. Place the clean decorations on a lint-free rag or into a clean bucket. There is no need to remove live plants for cleaning. It can possibly damage their roots. Cleaning decorations is a bit controversial and some argue that it is better to leave everything in the tank to preserve healthy bacteria. Place your siphon into the water and begin to drain the water directly into your sink or a bucket. You need to remove between 10-25% of the water depending on the dirtiness of the tank. You will want to complete this partial water change and cleaning process every one to two weeks. This dirty water does not need to be preserved and you can dispose of it immediately. Fill a clean bucket with tap water. Add drops of a water conditioner and wait a few minutes for it take full effect. The water conditioner will remove impurities and neutralize the chlorine in tap water making it safe for fish. Carefully read the instructions on your water conditioner bottle. The number of drops used varies as does the amount of time the water needs to sit.

Summary: Know your substrate type. Turn off the heater, filter, and all pumps. Remove the plants and decorations. Siphon out a portion of the water. Prepare replacement water.

While it's unlikely you'll want zero decimal places on a financial calculator, you can set it for that by pressing the [0] button. At the other end of the scale, pressing the [8] button will set the device to display 8 decimal places. This is a unique option for the TI BA II Plus that causes it to show a variable number of decimal places. Once you complete the process of changing the number of decimal places, this option will show as few decimal places as are necessary in order to completely display the number, yet no more than 9 decimal places. In other words, say your enter the number 3.5: In the default 2-decimal format, the display will read |3.50|. If set to zero decimal places, it will read |4.|. If set to 3 decimal places, it will read |3.500|. If set to 8 decimal places, it will read |3.50000000|. If set to the "floating decimal" format (by pressing [9]), it will read |3.5|. This is the second button from the left in the top row of the keypad. Pressing it causes the decimal place setting to reset based on the number entry you just made. You'll see one of the following: Zero places: |DEC = 0.| 1 place: |DEC = 1.0| 2 places: |DEC = 2.00| 3 places: |DEC = 3.000| 4 places: |DEC = 4.0000| 5 places: |DEC = 5.00000| 6 places: |DEC = 6.000000| 7 places: |DEC = 7.0000000| 8 places: |DEC = 8.00000000| Floating decimal: |DEC = 9.| Pressing the [2nd] button activates the second function for the [CPT] button, which is "QUIT." After hitting this combination of buttons, the screen will return to whatever appeared on it before you entered the |DEC = | screenbut with changed decimal place settings. The TI BA II Plus will retain the updated decimal place setting until such time as you choose to change it once again. There's only one exceptionif you go through the process of restoring all default settings, as described below: Press the [2nd] button, then the [+/-] button (its second function is "RESET"). Press the [ENTER] button to reset the calculator. This clears the calculator's memory, deletes any worksheet data, and restores all default settings.

Summary: Press a number button from 0-8 to set that number of decimal places. Press number button [9] to set a "floating decimal" format. Push the [ENTER] button after pressing your chosen number button. Confirm that the |DEC = | screen displays your chosen decimal places. Touch the [2nd] button, then the [CPT] button above it to exit the |DEC = | screen. Operate the calculator as normal with the decimal places now customized.

Some Italian restaurants offer whole pizzas as an appetizer for the table to share. If that's the case, you can grab a slice and hold or fold it to eat it. Try to stick to one slice until everyone in the table has gotten a piece. If you're wearing nice clothes and worried about dropping some toppings on yourself, you can use a fork and a knife to eat your pizza, as long as there are appetizer plates for you to set the slice on. In any formal dinner setting where pizza is the main entree, rest the slice on your plate and use the fork and knife to cut it into smaller pieces. Avoid picking up the slice with your hands, which can be unnecessarily messy. This will keep you from getting sauce and toppings on your clothes or face while eating, and is easier for talking while eating. In a formal dinner setting, if you don't know the proper etiquette for eating your food, you can always look to the host to see what's acceptable. When the pizza gets to the table, let the host take their piece first, which will give you time to make note of what they do. Try to avoid staring at them while they eat, which can be considered rude. Instead, focus on getting your pizza onto your plate and then glance at them to see how they're eating it. Depending on where you're from, the right way to eat pizza might be a controversial topic. If you're at dinner and someone is eating pizza differently than you would, avoid making comments about it. Follow the host's lead and eat the way they're eating to be polite. If someone makes a comment about the way that you eat pizza, take it in stride. Many people have strong opinions on the right way to eat a pizza because of where they're from. Just remember, all that matters is that you're enjoying the delicious slice in front of you!
Summary: Eat an appetizer pizza by holding it if you're at a restaurant. Show your manners by eating pizza with a fork and knife if you're at a business meal. Follow the host's lead if you're unsure of how to eat your slice. Keep your pizza opinions personal to avoid conflict.