Some Fish Gasping

[Rainbowneil]

Every couple of days i return to find several of my fish gasping for air on the surface of the water.

I changed the filter from a cheepo nasty external one to a Juwel compact just over a week ago. The juwel had been in my tank previously but the powerhead packed in so i replaced it with the cheepo. Bad idea.. Anyway im back to the Juwel now

What i have been doing is 20%-40% water changes every couple of days since the filter change. Its mostly my Cardinals that tend to be at the top gasping for air. They seem fine after the partial water change for about a day then they are back on the surface again

Also what i have noticed is there seems to be a sort of oily film on the surface of the water which im unsure what is causing this. Is there anything i can do other than keep doing water changes every couple of days?

Im paranoid im gonna start to loose fish any day

Any advise appreciated
Neil

 

[Squid]

How did you go about doing the change over?

Did you run them side by side for a few weeks first? or did you swap the filter media over to the juwel filter?

What are your water stats, it's sounding like you may have uncycled the tank, or going through a mini-cycle. Check your ammonia and nitrite levels and post them here.

Good luck..
Squid

 

[FISH KEEPER EXP]

hi i agree with squid,

sounds like the tank isnt cycled yet, possible ammonia and nitrite spike maybe what are your water stats?

 

[Spooky76]

Fristly as said, get a test kit and test your water, without it you literally are clutching at straws.
If there is ANY ammonia or Nitrite, do a 25% water change and re-test. If theres alot of ammonia or Nitrite do a larger water change. Then after an hour re-check and keep going until its gone.
If fish are gasping, add an air stone of increase water surface movement.