So at step 3 when I say to add more fish food when the ammonia has appeared I should not be doing that but instead be adding in more fish food when I start to see nitrites?You already said you'll be measuring ammonia, so when it goes down, add more food, then keep adding daily until you put fish in. But I would not add more food during the weeks where your ammonia level isn't dropping.
So this:
Step 1: After tank is all setup add 16 pinches of liquefied fish food to the water.
Step 2: Wait for Ammonia to appear by testing the water everyday. (If no Ammonia appears then add more fish food after 3 days)
Step 3: When Ammonia appears, start testing the water for both Ammonia and Nitrite.
Note: Make sure Ammonia does not get above 2ppm. If it does, do a partial water change to lower it down. Do not vacuum gravel.
Step 4: When nitrite starts appearing start adding fish food in again into the water in smaller quarantines. Keep measuring for Ammonia and Nitrite and as the ammonia level goes down add in food an necessary.
Step 5: When Nitrite starts to appear start to test for Nitrates. Now test everyday for Ammonia, Nitrite, and Nitrate. Continue adding in fish food everyday.
Step 6: When Nitrate appears, start testing the PH levels, Ammonia, Nitrite, and Nitrate everyday. If the PH level drops, do a water change.
Step 7. Keep adding in fish food everyday and test the water for everything. Once a reading of 0ppm occurs on Ammonia and Nitrite a few days in a row, the cycle is finished.
Step 8. Finally do a large water change to get rid of Phosphates and Nitrates. Also vacuum the gravel at this point.
Step 9: Add fish.
Step 10: Test the water for Ammonia and Nitrite every day. If there is an Ammonia or Nitrite spike do a large water change.
Step 11: Keep doing partial water changes every other day until things are stable.