DIY driftwood takes time, but it will save you tons of money. Some small pieces cost well over $20. Also, the soak method (minus salt) will work for store bought driftwood. Store bought driftwood is cleaned and has not been soaked. This may lead to tannin’s being leaked into your tank

What you’ll need:
Driftwood, which can be found anywhere. It doesn’t necessarily have to come from the water. You could find it in the woods, as long as it is weathered down and looks unique. Also make sure the wood is not rotting.

BIG soaking container, I use a 15 gal rubber maid container.

Aquarium Salt, I use Doc Wellfish brand. This is used as a natural way of killing bacteria and parasites.

First step, clean off your wood! Make sure all debris and bark are removed from the wood (or it’ll fall off in your tank!). Once complete, boil the water in the BIG pot and add aquarium salt. I use about a tablespoon per gallon. Boil the entire piece for about 2-4 hours depending on your size. If you can only fit half the wood in the pot then you will need to boil the other half.

Once the boil is complete you can transfer your wood into the rubber maid container. Add water until the whole piece of wood is under water (you can also add salt if you want). If the wood does not sink place something on top of it until it does. It’ll sink after a week or two. You’ll notice the water turn into tea-ish color. It is the result of the tannins that are released into the water. If you didn’t soak the wood, the water in your tank would be this color. Tannins are natural and some fishes actually like it because it’ll make them feel more at home. It’ll also affect your PH, I’m not sure about GH or KH. You’ll need to do water changes every other day to clean the water. This may take weeks or months.

When the color of the soak water suffices, you will need to soak your wood for another week without any salt. This will make sure that the wood does not hold any salt that may leak into your tank.

Once soaking is complete wash the wood well and transfers the wood into your tank. Do not keep the wood out of water for a long time or it will float.

For more information and pictures about this project, please visit www.CarolinaFishTalk.com and check the DIY section.

Article written by krayzievanh@yahoo.com, member of CFT Community
Proof read by Brandan Njagu b.njagu@gmail.com

This article is free for republishing
Source: http://www.articlealley.com/article_46097_54.html

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Want to know how to make skin younger? When we were young we had radiant complexions, but as we age we lose a lot due to the elements. I don’t know anyone who wouldn’t want to try and cling to their youthful looks their entire lives. Now, if we could only go backwards!

Here are three things you can adopt right away to keep your skin looking younger.

First, one of the major reasons our skin becomes dry, wrinkled and saggy as we age is a loss of collagen and elastin. As many of us know, free radicals in our environment destroy healthy skin cells.

The solution to how to make skin look younger is consuming a diet that is rich in antioxidants. What kind of foods? Easy! There are several foods with antioxidant properties, but here are a few to try: Berries, spinach/leafy greens, soy and good proteins like salmon & tuna (healthy fats!) Stay away from fast food and sugar! It ruins the collagen and elasticity of your skin!

Next in how to keep skin looking younger is hydrating it. I am sure you’ve probably heard this before if you’ve dieted. Consume eight 8 ounce glasses or a gallon a day. It seems like a lot, but makes a big difference in how to make skin look younger, soft and supple. It also keeps free radicals on the run!

The third trick is to have a skincare product that not only shows you how to make skin younger, but actually performs. But what should you look for?

There are important factors to consider when buying a skincare product. It should be ideally natural and free of parabens, a cancerous agent and other harsh chemicals that can ruin the skin. Also, the product needs treat the causes of aging at the source to solve the problem.

When deciding how to keep skin looking younger, it would be wise to look for a product that contains ingredients such as CynergyTK (stimulates collagen and elastin), Phytessence Wakame (Japanese sea kelp) and Nano-Lipobelle H EQ10 (a CoEnyzme Q10).

These natural skincare ingredients have been clinically proven to help your body produce more collagen, elastin and new skin cells. They also keep hyaluronidase, a destructive enzyme from destroying healthy hyaluronic acid that your face needs to stay young. Also, it fights free radicals. With a product fighting all three causes of aging, what more could you ask for in how to make skin look younger?

Put this to the test right away yourself. Learning how to keep skin looking younger isn’t a difficult task; you just have to commit to using high quality skincare and know how to fight the enemy!

Laurel is a long time user and passionate advocate of natural skin care products. Visit her site now to discover cutting edge, anti-aging skin care products she recommends after extensive research: http://www.beautiful-skin-site.com.

This article is free for republishing
Source: http://www.articlealley.com/article_696057_23.html

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Author: Harry Lawrance

With the growth of the internet it has become increasingly popular for holiday makers to omit the middleman (the travel agent) and put together their own cheap holidays by booking their flights, holiday accommodation and transfers separately online themselves, rather than taking a traditional package holiday. If you don’t mind giving up the convenience of having your holiday arranged for you and having somebody there to help should something go wrong, DIY holidays can save you money and provide you with greater flexibility. If you’ve never booked a DIY holiday before, this article should provide some tips to help you along the way and help you save money.

Booking Flights: -

To ensure you are getting the best flight price possible you should use an online comparison site to search through all the available options. The best deals on flights are usually snapped up early so try and book as far in advance of your holiday as possible. Being flexible by considering alternative departure dates, times and airports can knock pounds off the price. Generally speaking, midweek flights are the cheapest as the demand is lower. Bringing your holiday forward or delaying your holiday by just a couple of days can sometimes make a huge deal of difference to the price you will pay. Also, the time of day you fly may affect the price. Flights departing very late at night are usually cheaper than those departing at more sociable hours. Consider alternative departure airports, for instance, if you live in the south east of England and would normally look to fly out of London Heathrow, consider departing from Gatwick, Stansted, Luton or Southampton instead. Prices may be cheaper and it may be quicker to transit these airports to see if it is any cheaper. Once you have found the cheapest flight that meets your requirements book it as soon as possible. Don’t wait to see if the price will go down as they very rarely do. When booking be sure to enter names exactly as they appear on passports and read the booking terms and conditions carefully.

Choosing your accommodation: -

There are many holiday accommodation options available and you will need to decide whether you want an apartment or hotel, and whether you want some or all of your meals prepared for you or if you would rather cater for yourself. Self catering apartments are generally the cheapest option and offer the best value for money, but many will lack the facilities of hotels and the convenience of having meals included. Make sure you research the facilities available in the hotel or apartments you choose and don’t just rely on how many stars the accommodation has been awarded as the star system can be misleading and is not necessarily an indication of value for money. Also consider the location of the accommodation. Those further away from the centre of your chosen holiday resort will usually be cheaper. Consider accommodation just outside the centre of the holiday resort as this will save you money but not leave you isolated from the action.

Transfer: -

Once you have booked your flights and holiday accommodation you will want to think about how you will get from the airport to your hotel or apartment. You may wish to pre-book a bus transfer or a taxi directly to your holiday accommodation. Alternatively, for the greatest holiday freedom you can hire a car and drive yourself. If you are hiring a car you should compare holiday car hire prices online to be sure you are getting the best deal and pre-book whilst still in the UK as the prices will usually be lower than in the airport. Before driving away from the airport make sure you have purchased adequate insurance to cover you in the event of theft, damage or an accident.

About the Author:

Harry Lawrance is an experienced travel writer based in the UK.

Article Source: http://www.articlesbase.com/travel-tips-articles/diy-cheap-holidays-192909.html

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Log cabins may not be the first item you would think of putting on your Christmas wish list, but if you have your parents, in-laws, aunts, uncles and numerous children descending on you over the Christmas period, a log cabin used as a guest room could give you the extra space you need for your guests.

To determine what sort of log cabin will suit you, there are a few questions that need to be answered:

How much space do you have for a log cabin?

Unless you have a garden the size of a postage stamp, there should be a log cabin to suit you. Many log cabins are designed for smaller gardens where space is limited, and if space is not an issue, you could have a log cabin the size of a small house with two storeys.

Who will use your log cabin?

If young and old alike are to use your log cabin, it would be best to have a log cabin with a double door entrance so prams and wheelchairs can be easily accommodated.

What is your budget?

Small log cabins start at about £600 and can run into thousands for very large log cabins with all the extras – such as a veranda, double-glazing, window shutters, window boxes, etc. A good log cabin company will stock log cabins to suit all budgets.

Which type of log cabin should you choose?

Log cabins usually come in a high-quality DIY kit form. The log cabin kits come in a variety of wall thickness, ranging from 28mm to 45mm and are normally made from pre-cut, pre-notched, tongue and grooved kiln dried timbers for quick assembly. Shopping online is a good place to look for log cabins as they display a range of designs, provide details about each log cabin, and are often cheaper than garden centres or DIY stores.

Who is going to build your log cabin?

For some people, the idea of erecting their own log cabin is met with delight and enthusiasm, and it can be a rewarding and satisfying experience. Most log cabins only require quality basic tools, for example: a drill, hammer, screwdrivers, and a level and good log cabins come with detailed building instructions to guide you all the way. For other people, the idea of erecting their own log cabin is, well, abhorrent! The best option would be to find a local builder, or the log cabin company could recommend one for you.

Once your log cabin is built, the only problem you’ll have are your relatives fighting over who is going to stay in it!

When Christmas has been and gone, instead of leaving your log cabin empty, collecting spider webs and dust, it could earn you money as bed and breakfast accommodation. Who could resist staying overnight in a rustic yet modern accommodation? And tax-wise, a B&B can prove to be very beneficial as a home based business. However, before you start, you should check with your local planning authority, as you’ll be changing your home from residential to business. If you think a B&B would be too much work, you could rent it out to a lodger, so you would have a steady income every week/month. If you own freehold property, you will need to inform your insurers about a lodger, and if you have a mortgage, you may need permission from your mortgage lender.

Log cabins may not be what most people would choose as a Christmas present, but there aren’t many gifts that provide additional space for the home, and a way to earn extra income.

Article Source: http://www.articleset.com

About the Author

Dean Hamilton wrote the article on 'Log Cabins For Christmas and Extra Income' and recommends you visit www.gardeningthoughts.co.uk for more information on log cabins and garden related products. » Read more articles by Dean Hamilton

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Author: Mike Lombardy

Making an outdoor kitchen all by you can be fun. Though it can be time consuming and requires some physical effort it’s a great way to jump start your creativity and have a good time with your family. The most important tip while building an outdoor kitchen all by yourself is : Take it slowly. You don’t want to exhaust yourself.

A typical outdoor kitchen DIY project usually takes about 50 hours of time. This is when you all the plans and materials in place. Add a few hours extra for going to the market and ordering all items. The construction can be done either on weekends or you can take it in one go.

Such a project would cost you around less than $3000 and would include a grill, sinks fixtures, cabinets, framing (made from wood /concrete /backer board) and tiling.

Though you will find information on how to build outdoor kitchens on the internet, try looking for a book which gives practical advice on how to begin and avoid the pitfalls. This way you would save a lot of time and material wastage. Sunset barbecues and outdoor kitchens is a very popular book which you could consider.

A typical outdoor kitchen (with concrete sub structures)would require the following materials to get you started.

1. Sink with faucet and tap

2. Outdoor cabinet doors

3. Gas pipe, shutoff valve, and connections

4. Plumbing supplies: drain lines, supply lines, stop valves

5. Electrical supplies: cable or conduit with wire, boxes, GFCI receptacles

6. Concrete block

7. Mortar mix

8. Pressure-treated 2 × 4s

9. 4 × 4s

10. Nails and screws for building framing and attaching boards to the house

11. concrete backer board

12. Stucco mix

13. Waterproof tile backing

14. Fortified thin set mortar

15. Tiles

16. Fortified grout

17. Grout sealer

18. Paint

So what are you waiting for ? Get the concrete , Get the backer board , It’s action time !

About the Author:

Mike Lombardy is a freelance writer and a hopeless barbecue addict. He provides tips and advice for homeowners to build outdoor kitchens and outdoor kitchen islands . His numerous articles offer moneysaving tips and valuable insight.

Article Source: http://www.articlesbase.com/home-and-family-articles/how-to-make-a-do-it-yourself-diy-outdoor-kitchen-166473.html

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Author: Yaron Lavi

If you truly look for an easy to use, yet luxurious surface redecoration option, then DIY Bathroom Floor Tile remodeling is something you should seriously consider. One of the most exciting things about these panels is how nature ’sculptured’ each stone for millions of years transforming it decorative and appealing. The following review will show you how you can easily use these unique nature-made panels.

Short overview

The shortest way to describe this unique tiling method is the following: DIY Bathroom Floor Tile redecoration is made of grouping identical smooth beach-stones attached onto a fixed size (usually 12′ x 12′) mesh backing. If you already had the chance to visit the exotic island of Bali - Indonesia, you’ll probably notice that most of these tiles are made of Bali beach stones. They are so versatile, enabling you to remodel anywhere: Bathroom flooring and wall coating (including showers), kitchen surfaces such as countertops & backsplashes, patios, pools and even fireplaces.

Benefits

This solution provides several important advantages:

* Saves extra expenses on hiring a professional installer.
* Easily adjusted to almost any surface size especially when it comes to tiling around taps and small narrow areas.
* Provides unique atmosphere and contemporary look and feel to any surface.

Important tips!

* Upon completion, it is important to wait the adhesive’s recommended drying time before you begin on grouting.

* Order a small sample of the desired tiles prior to making a complete order - just to make sure it answers your expectations.

* Laminate the stones with a sealer prior to installation - it’ll protect it from liquids, dirt and detergents transforming it even more durable.

We could easily find many other great advantages provided by this easy diy method simply because you quickly discover the wide variety and opportunities provided by these natural panels.

Summary

For an average user DIY Bathroom Floor Tile installation is quite fast and requires no more than several hours (pending the size of the coated surface). For a simple and enjoyable installation process it is highly recommended to remember the above tips and advices before installation.

About the Author:

Get creative! - Learn more about how you can easily decorate any surface at home or in the office with DIY Bathroom Floor Tile.

Visit: HomePebbleTiles.com

Article Source: http://www.articlesbase.com/diy-articles/diy-bathroom-floor-tile–it-takes-just-hours-to-get-it-done-623179.html

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Author: Alex Kemsley

Are you a person who loves to be in log cabins? There is good news, now you can build your log cabins with log cabin kits. People who have always been admiring the idea of living in log cabins know well that sometimes it is really expensive to live in them. For this they sometimes take DIY construction advice in order to build a gorgeous home in a cost effective way. The recent increase in their popularity has opened various options for the people to make their living worth in them. As a matter of fact, many log cabin kits are made available in the housing market for a cheaper, stylish, and far easier living. This way you can construct a log cabin that you have always wished for. They are traditional and beautiful. With these kits, you can build your dream house without using heavy equipments or cranes.

These log cabin kits come in different combinations. You may find them in a package, including basic log cabin building with logs, fasteners and sealers. They are used for your cabin’s exterior walls. The only important thing to know is if the logs are cut to proper lengths or they need cutting. Another way is to look for whether they can slot together like lego blocks or not? This way they will help in making a safe architecture with: self confidence, concentration, innovation, spatial intelligence, and team work. Also, they come with specific additions to the roof systems and walls. They include windows, exterior trim, exterior doors, porches, and floor systems.

Additionally, Finn forest log cabins have gained a lot of popularity amongst people as they are environmentally friendly and energy efficient. They are affordable and are available in log cabin kits. So, there is no need to gather the materials or contact different builders or companies for their construction. Also, these cabin kits will help you construct your house faster than any other traditional log cabin. Finn forest cabins leave the people with wonderment because of their art and simply expressive structure. So, if you think of log cabin construction, these cabin kits can give you best ideas to go for rustic log cabins with striking forest backgrounds. It’s true that there isn’t any other type that can provide you primitive beauty and ultimate elegance than these easy to use kits. Another added advantage is the uniqueness they lend to a log cabin.

Furthermore, any home can be a place of comfort and beauty, but only log cabins can add more to the warmth or cozy environment of your house. They make the dwelling more personal and pleasurable. So, if you are really wondering about log cabin kits then know they can save loads of your money and can help you construct a structure that is more stylish and worth living. It is really wonderful to relax in a home constructed with DIY construction advice as it gives the realization that you have created your own small beautiful world, an extension of your space and dreams.

About the Author:

Log Cabin Kits avaiblible online from the UK’s leading online Finn Forest Log Cabins retailer. Fully interative website detail all installation aspects with 3d view of all cabins.

Article Source: http://www.articlesbase.com/customer-service-articles/log-cabin-kits-diy-construction-advice-542864.html

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