OK, just we all stay on the same page:

- All my decorations are plastic and were well rinsed prior to being put in the tank. Then the tank's filtering system was run for 48 hours (cycling water) prior to adding living creatures.
- As for cleaning, I use a syphon hose to remove about 2 buckets' worth of dirty water from the gravel and features, and then top up the tank with fresh water (from a country well) that is about 80 degrees. I do this every few days to remove as much visible poop as possible.
- I have an in-tank real-time ammonia monitor. I make sure it never goes above 'SAFE' (less than 0.02 ppm).