Ok, so I got to this one a little late for help along the way...but you have done a wonderful job IMO!!! Your tank looks wonderful :thm:
Just a few suggestions from me here....first did you ever get a liquid test kit? Really as others have said the strips are very unreliable. You don't have to get a master kit ya know, check walmart and see if they have individual tests. The ones around here at least have the Nitrate, Nitrite and Ammonia liquid tests those are your main ones you want to worry about, they may have pH, KH and GH also, mine doesn't but ya never know.
For future reference, if you set up another tank with sand...be sure you rinse it well first before putting it in the tank, that will help quite a bit with the cloudiness, also when filling the tank, fill it through a strainer or put a plate under the water flow, it will help spread the water out and also helps with cloudiness. I have set many tanks up with sand and have always done it this way, yes you will still have some cloudiness but it doesn't take to long to clear up. Heck even when I have put the sand in unrinsed (doesn't work as well) but just adding the water through a strainer was a improvement,
The only other thing, keep a eye on your gourami's...they most likely will end up fighting at some point, they may get along now and for a while but at some point (because they are most likely all males) they will fight so be prepared to separate them.
