First, make sure there is no soap residue left over from the cleaning. Fill it up with purified water and let it mature for at least a couple of days. Make sure you have a new and clean filter. I usually go to Pisces for my tank stuff but Big Als on Heritage is good too. Go there and get some bottles of Waste Control, Aqua Plus and Cycle. Follow the instructions on the bottles. After the few days are up get the plants in there and maybe some Molly's or cheap tetra to test the water out. After about a week take a water sample to the store and get them to analyze it. If everything is OK and the fish aren't dead get some cool ones and enjoy.
Do not go to 'supermarket' stores like Petland. The people working there usually don't know a damned thing about keeping tanks properly. Stick to the stores that specialize in aquatics.
EDIT: My advice would be not to start (or ever own) cichlids. They can be quite nasty and not great community fish. Most kinds of tetra's and danio's are good ones to start with and they look good. Make sure at least one bulb is a 'black light' to get the full effect of the fish's colors. Oh, and get a pleco to clean up the bottom of the tank. Don't get a crayfish, they are nasty and will eat the fish if they get a chance.
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