Mako

Ok so im going to go buy a 100 gallon tank used. looks like i just gotta scrub it. http://lancaster.craigslist.org/for/790763363.html I was wondering what types of fish i can get, and i want to have sand and coral, so what types can i have that go with that? Also can i mix in cool stuff shrimp, or those little crabs? Will that stuff all work together? I am very interested (i know i have to wait like a month before i add fish) but do i wait a month before adding coral too? What are some trusted companies for heaters and skimmers and stuff? I want to have alot of colorful fish, are there any like small sharks i can add in? Sorry i have so many questions and I've been reading up but its hard to take it all in. ok so i realize coral may be a little tough and pricey to start out with, so maybe FOWLR or FO, but with Fish Only can i still have sand and other cool creatures like crabs and stuff?

clinton1621

Make sure you have the correct lighting for coral, they require very high intensity and I believe (corrections if I'm wrong) at least 3 or 4 watts per gallon. Corals are also very sensitive to water parameters so definitely wait until your cycled to add them. As far as adding shrimp and crabs... just make sure you research the fish youre getting because some fish naturally eat them! All sharks get wayyyy too big even for a 100G tank.
I dont have any specific recommendations for heaters / filters / skimmers.... just remember what you pay is what you get so dont get cheap stuff or you'll be taking it back anyway, on the filtration side make sure you have plenty of circulation... 20 times your gallons or more as a GPH flow rate if youre going to have a reef type setup

fishrule101

You can add like almost anything you want in a 100!! Wait at least three months or something like that until you get corals. They don't like there parameters moving . As for light I think a 100 is way taller than 24" so metal halides if you plan on getting corals which need strong light. What are you planning on using as a filter? I would use LR. LR helps in everything hidding places, food, filter....etc. There are some sharks that grow about three feet, but they are SHARKS and will likely eat your other fish. Yes use can mix shrimps and crabs but research becuase some shrimps don't like other shrimps. I would get a sump for a tank that size. A FOWLR just mean theres no corals in there. You can still get crabs. Get snails after you finish cycling becuase you might get an alage boom like me. Well hope to see your tank soon.

Slug

I'd get the measurements on that tank, picture is decieving and tank looks smaller the 100gals.

If it is indeed a 100gal there are many options as far as fish and inverts go, to many to list. I'd browse some sites and see what catches your eye, then research that fish more. Inverts don't take much bioload and with 100gals you'd be able to have multipule shrimp/crabs.

As far as coral goes, once the tank is cycled you could add coral, not usually recommended as coral need and prefer a good established tank. However some of the easy stuff like Zoanthids, Palythoa, star polyps, and mushrooms would work well to start.

If you do indeed want to keep coral, make sure the fish you get are reef safe. Also keeping coral is going to run up the costs of the setup, lighting is key. And on a 100gal it can be pricey. Coral itself can be found pretty cheap, and its really not that hard to care for IMO. Just keep your water right and the coral will keep itself alive. As long as the water is good, the only thing coral needs is light to live.

FOWLR and FO tanks are called that for a reason. Usually the fish in these tanks are predetors and/or fish that much reef inhabitants (Inverts, other fish, coral). So you will be very limited as far as "other creatures" go.

Heaters, i prefer Visatherm Stealth heaters. Skimmers, there are quite a few good companies. On a tank this large a good skimmer would be a good investment. They are expensive though. ATI (Bubble Master), Tunze, Reef Octopus, all are good. There are a few other brands out there.