I dont see why it isnt safe to do a 100% water change..... Fish cycles are known for taking longer and having more work than fishless. If it comes down to restarting the cycle then so be it, you need to worry about the health of the fish. Keep levels below .25... thats all i can tell you
I did a fish cycle once, using 5 danios 20 gallon tank. All survived with flying colors, no effect whatsoever. After 3 weeks a few of them seemed mal-nourished, had bent spines, and stopped eating. I did whatever i could to save it but it died in the end. Cause, i dont know. A few others stopped eating but without bent spines. I lost all original 5 danios within 2-3 months.
Its not always about the health of the fish at the time, you have to think of long term effects. I did daily 50% water changes in that tank but still lost all cycling fish. Now on i would never even consider a fish cycle. Fishless is so much easier and so much more humane.
If you want to slow down the ammonia-nitrite conversion, buy some plants, plants love ammonia.
I did a fish cycle once, using 5 danios 20 gallon tank. All survived with flying colors, no effect whatsoever. After 3 weeks a few of them seemed mal-nourished, had bent spines, and stopped eating. I did whatever i could to save it but it died in the end. Cause, i dont know. A few others stopped eating but without bent spines. I lost all original 5 danios within 2-3 months.
Its not always about the health of the fish at the time, you have to think of long term effects. I did daily 50% water changes in that tank but still lost all cycling fish. Now on i would never even consider a fish cycle. Fishless is so much easier and so much more humane.
If you want to slow down the ammonia-nitrite conversion, buy some plants, plants love ammonia.
