Why is it that the only tank I didn't fishless cycle with ammonia or add established media to was by far the easiest tank to set up?

I left my largest tank just sitting empty for weeks (with some plants and snails) and then added fish (I didn't know about fishless cycling with ammonia back then). Only a small nitrite spike when I added the first fish and went away within 24 hours. Subsequent fish additions went smoothly.

I used the media from that tank to start up a Betta tank but it didn't work and I've been having to change water daily to keep ammonia and nitrites under check.

And now this tank which I followed the instructions to cycle with ammonia by the book. Waited until it was at the point where 24 hours after adding ammonia there was no nitrite left. I do 80% water change to get rid of the massive quantities of nitrate and add the fish.

And now this...

This is causing me so much stress. Now I'm going to have to change water of two tanks daily or twice daily. This hobby is much more difficult than I ever remember it being when I started as a child :(