Aquaclear spitting micro bubbles and fuge questions
 

I have a 1 month old AC 30 PH that i use for circulation and i have noticed it is randomly spitting out (big) clouds of fine bubbles, is this a defect with the impeller or something else? I also have a question about adding a refugium. I dont have the space for a sump, so i would have to hang one on the back. I have seen several articles where people have made there own from a HOB filter, like an AC etc. What is the purpose of the fuge, and what do you stock it with? I seem to have a ton of copepods and amphipods in my tank (fallow now except for my snails, hermits, LTA and some shrooms due to an Ich outbreak), do they naturally go in there and multiply or do you stock it with something that will grow and provide nutrients? I want to add a mandarin but have heard they need a ton of these to feed on (seems like i am well on my way there) but how else do they multiply without running out 9my tank is only a 40 g and i have read that one mandarin should be in at least a 75g tank).

Your power head should be fine. The only place it could be picking up air if its totaly submerged is from a bubble. A fuge is basically a refuge(safe zone) conected to your system in which to culture macro algae and pods and such. The idea is that the pods can proliferate in saftey and constantly help to replenish your system.

thanks, do you have to stock the refugium, if so how? Just seeing those little guys scurry around the rocks makes me cringe trying to think how to catch them. can you buy stuff from the LFS to stock it with?

You can add some rock rubble and macroalgae from your main tank to the fuge; the pods will travel with them. ;)

awesome, thanks!