questions, which are most appropriate and well thought out. Wish that was done sooner. I do think you are developing a feel for the process of cycling an aquarium. There may be more to earn later on, for all of us.
Water changes are wise and probably necessary. If you have been doing 25%, do a water change of 30% and the next day possible, 35%. Or if you are already close to 45 or 50%, please keep it up.
I had never thought of two changes a day. Two 25% changes is more gentle on the fish than one 50%, though the actual old water taken out would be closer to 40%.
Two plants, unless they are huge, probably will not effect the water a lot. So long as you are making heavy water changes that will not matter. Most of us, when starting out, don't have a lot of money for plants. Two fairly inexpensive, fastgrowing "guppy plants" which would do well in your water would be the floating hornwort and Valesneria. A less available and messy plant (because it sheds leaves) is "guppy grass" or Najas. Available infrequently in shops, but often available through aquarium club channels, it is a fast grower under 2 watts/gallon and 13-16 hours a day. It is such a fast grower, that like the first two it is a good "ammonia sponge" and able to keep some ammonia spikes less extreme.
Perhaps my favorite aquarium plants are Java ferns, but while they are amazingly tolerant of hard water for a fern, they are slow growers and expensive to start out with. (But imagine having one 2x6" Java fern which grew so big that it filled a 20-gallon tank or having a field of smaller ones fill a 10 end to end and bottom to top!)
Your water supply is hard and alkaline! Because of the threat acidic water presents to lead pipes (and us) it has been mandated that most cities supply buffered water, if the municipal water pH isn't already high. As I think you know, the higher the pH, the more dangerous the ammonia.
For a fast fix on ammonia, try the quite expensive Polyfilter. It, and substances like it, will take a fair amount of ammonia out of the water. Really new (and previously rinsed) activated carbon will do well, but only for a few days to a week. It could be useful with you monitoring the tests. When ammonia and nitrite are measuring safe, pull the Polyfilter and store it in a sealed kitchen type of bag (zip lock?) until you need it again. Check with your LFS (live fish store) for what they would have, because they may have other products which do the same job.
It will slow down the cycling process, but your fish will live to feed another day. ;)
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