Supriseing end to a craigslist disaster

So I was searching craigs list at around 4am on thursday morning. I was looking for a deal on a chiller. Instead I found this add that said this guy inherited a 100G salt water tank, stand, canapy, lights, chiller, 2 fluval 404 filters, and 100 lbs of live rock. all for $350. He lives in Pomona which is about a 90 min drive from me. I called him while i was at work and asked if he had any pics, he said know but told me everything was in good condition and he wasn't selling it so cheap because he was moving. Well I had to work untill 10pm, but i didn't want to miss out on this incredible deal. So I grabbed my dads truck and took the drive to pomona. Got there about midnight and realize that he lives in a trailer park. He met me outside then walked me to the tank. From a distance it didn't look to bad, then I take a look at the tank from up close. It is dark but I can still see that the entire inside of the tank is covered in red algae and scratched to hell. The stand looks a little beaten up but nothing I couldn't fix. So I ask him where the lights and chiller are he points out these crappy plastic halogen hood lights that have a built in bio wheel, but no bio wheels. Then i ask, where is the chiller. Figure if the chiller is in decent shape, then it may still be worth it. He pointed to a small back pack looking thing and said it was in there. I pull out this huge 20 year old power head that is covered in algae and some un known crap. I tell him that it defenetly isnt a chiller and he says thats what the guy at his LFS told him it was. He also says he has some fish left from the tank. He takes me to a five gallon bucket with a power head on it. There are two dead de composing fish in there and a decent sized un known fish. I told him I wasn't interested in the tank but i would give him $20 for 3 pieces of live rock and the fish. I felt bad for the fish so I figured I would take care of it, and felt it deserved a better life. He agread and I put the fish and water in a sealed 10G bucket I had. When I got home I got it in the light and realized it was a powder brown tang. It is very pretty and he seems to be doing ok. He has been activly swimming since last night and looks to be healthy. Hear are some photo's of my fish. I was very pissed untill I saw this fish. He may just be worth the trip if he makes it.



hear are some pics of the live rock. Its the white pieces at the top.


I also posted this in my tank thread, but figured I would share my story with everyone.

 

I'm happy you saved the tang. Poor thing.. Well lucky thing now. You have given the tang a chance in life...K+ to you

 

You must look like an angel to that poor fish. K+!

 

what where the dead fish?

i cant believe the powdered brown made it they arent that hardy

 

+1 on above, this is incredible, and on the photos, it looks iin great shape

Steve

 

sounds like you saved it just in time

 

wow amazing story, lucky for the fish you happened to come along i'm sure it wouldn't have lived too much longer in that bucket. Nice rock find too.

Congrats

 

sad story, nice find. K+

 

I have no idea what the other fish where, they where to far gone and it was dark. I didn't even know this fish was a powder brown untill I got it home. But he has been eating sea weed like crazy and swiming like there is know tomarro. It found my little cave in the center and loves to swim laps in and out of it.

 

Beauty of a fish. Lucky thing that you saved it. Major K+