It is a big process, but the fact that you are doing your research ahead of time, rather than just throwing a bunch of fish together and waiting for disaster to happen will make it a much better experience for you. You are to be commended for your efforts.
If you want lots of colorful fish, Mbuna are probably a pretty good way to go. They are brightly colored and are hardy, which makes them good beginner fish. They are also used to being packed into small spaces, so overcrowding is actually encouraged in order to spread out the aggression, as they can be VERY nasty little boogers.
Here is a good article on cyclng your tank, which you will need to do before introducing any fish.
http://www.tropicalresources.net/php...ss_cycling.php I hope that helps get you started.