Cycling Freshwater Aquarium

Question
Hello. I bought a new 40 gallon aquarium, and am trying to cycle it. I am trying to do a fish-less cycle, so I purchased pure ammonia, and added it until the ammonia reading was 4 ppm. Then I was instructed to wait for 7 days, and test the ammonia and nitrite. I was supposed to see the ammonia levels dropping and see a nitrite reading, but the ammonia levels are the same,and there is no nitrite. The temperature of the tank is 84, and the filter is working. There is gravel and decorations in the tank. I went out and bought a bottle of Colony Freshwater Professional Grade Nitrifying Bacteria - 8 fl oz, for the tank, and it is supposed to contain live Nitrosomonas and Nitrobacter bacteria in a special freshwater preservative solution. I figured after adding the bacteria, since they use ammonia as their energy source, I should begin seeing the ammonia levels drop, but it has been two days, and they are stills at 4 ppm. Do you have any ideas on how I can get my tank to cycle, or what I am doing wrong? Also I plan to have one Blood Parrot Cichlid and two German Blue Rams in this tank. Do you think they will get along well? I know the German Ram likes acidic pHs, but the Parrot likes more neutral pHs, so do you think keeping the pH at 7 would harm the rams? Also, do you know what the best food for these fish is? Thanks in advance,
Catrina

Answer
Seeing that an aquarium cycle takes 6-8 weeks I would give it some time. If the ammonia readings are too high then I suggest doing a partial water change and starting over. I dislike using ammonia to cycle a tank as the ammonia seems to linger for a longer time then usual. I normally use tropical fish flakes which breaks down in a lower amount of ammonia and cycles easier.

As for your stocking plan, the Blood Parrot Cichlid is not going to work in that aquarium I am afraid. They need a 55 preferably 65 gallon aquarium as they can reach a foot in size and are quite active fish. German Blue Rams are highly sensitive to water quality and should be added when the tank is "seasoned" which means a tank that is at least 4+ months old.

Look into 2-3 Lab Cichlids and then add the 1-2 German Blue's later on.