Thank you Anthony and the bod of the club.
Just to add to this so everyone gets an idea of the what really happened:
Mike (MNC) and I met through Mars and have been friends since 08. We were what I considered "friends" and not just reef buddies. He's been out shooting at the range with me and my bros, I've babysat his previous tank and his dogs while he was on vacation, and he was even the witness at my marriage ceremony at the courtroom. So that is the main reason why I was kind enough to give him his current tank set up. Some of you may have saw him with me at the Mars frag swap, where I brought him along and he won the reef angel controller, which is what he needed to get his led/t5 hybrid light working (this is the light originally built by Joshua G), which I sold him along with an eheim needle wheel pump for $300. His entire set up, 120g AGA tank, stand, canopy, asm skimmer, sump, return pump, and 150lbs live rock, were given to him for free, because he told me he couldn't afford it and couldn't be in the hobby if I didn't give him all that. He was a friend, and I didn't mind helping him out. I gave him the entire set up minus a light all for free. He came back later and asked to buy a nice light and a better skimmer pump than the one I gave him (a Sedra 5k on the asm skimmer). I sold him the led/t5 hybrid and eheim needle wheel pump for $300, and gave him agree rodi which I'm sure he uses right now.
The actual issue started back in October/November of 2015. He couldn't get his light hooked up to the reef angel that he won at the Mars frag swap. At this time I was also upgrading tanks. I asked him to hold all my prized zoas (including couple polyps of bowser, I bought from Doung who owns the elos120xl set up) and some lps corals. He said his light wasn't working good so if I could lend him a light. I said sure. He took my corals and my ati dimmable sunpower 6x54w (which I bought from casskar/Ruben when he sold all his stuff). Fast forward to dec, I ask mike if I can get my corals and light back, he said sure, to go pick it up Thursday. Thursday rolls around and he text me that he couldn't meet and was busy. I asked when can I come then? No answer. Few days later he text and said next weekend. Next weekend rolls around and I said can I come? No answer. Few days later he text me and told me his father is sick and he can't meet. I said that's fine. But when can I come? No answer. I gave him 2 weeks before I text and called. Which at that time, no answer, both phone or text. Following week, he text and said, "I'll get you your light by end of week". End of week rolls by and I text and called, no answer. Since then I've called and text once a week, and no answer. I went by his house once, his truck was home, (remeber we were friends so I know him pretty well, when he's home his dogs are out of cage, when he's not home they're caged). His dogs were running around the house, and his truck was home so I knew he was home, his house has frosted glass in front door, so I saw his tank and dogs. But he didn't answer door. And tbo, it wasn't like I was pestering him, I only called and texted once a week at most. All this time since dec, I've only went to knock on his door once.
Since then, he's "unfriended" me on Facebook, and most likely blocked me on his phone. He's on the 916 reef club (which I invited him into the group), and he's been active on Fb even trying to win a free coral on a post on Fb from another member 2 days ago, which is why I feel the need to go public about it now.
I could've filed a police report, and done many other things, but I never did, and I didn't go public about all this time because he "was" a friend and I gave him the benefit of the doubt that something may have happened to him in his life that prevented him from getting in touch with me. But it's obvious now that he's doing this on purpose, and he borrowed my light and held my corals with intent to do this from the beginning, I just didn't know. I never saw his premeditated plan, and didn't think he'd be this kind of person.
The $ value in the items he has is maybe close to $1k street price. I was told by many that in court, after a X$ of dollars, if I file police report, it's criminal charges. But tbo, the $value is not what I was worried about. I gave him equipment and a set up worth way more than tha because he was a friend. If he'd ask nicely for more equipment, I probably would've even given him more that he may want/need. But the principle behind this is screwed up. I was a friend, that I believed, that tried to be a good of a friend as possible to him and was kind to him. And I can not believe he'd do this to me. So when I asked the bod of Mars to post this, it's mainly to warn others. If I was his good friend and he did this to me, he will do it to others without thinking twice. So please avoid dealing with this guy, and spread the word.
I doubt I'll ever get my stuff back, but that's fine, I believe in karma.
Mike, I know you read these boards. And I know you see this. I thought of you as a friend, and not just a reef buddy. No matter what, you know and I know the truth. You know I gave you so much for free, and you know you ended up screwing me, keeping all my corals and my light. I want u to know that I ended up spending close to $1k to replace all the zoas and my light. I know you don't care and probably gives you joy that you stole that light and my corals, but I hope that taking an aquarium light and corals was worth you losing a good friend and your reputation. I'm sure it doesn't bother you or else you wouldn't have done this. I DO regret being kind to you. Of all the people in the world, you do this to me. It did surprise me that you'd be this kind of man, but at least your true colors shine through now.
I don't care if I get my corals or light back, but as long as all the local reefers know what kind of a man Mike is, then I feel my loss did some good and others won't make the same mistake.
Thanks for taking your time to read this everyone. Happy reefing, and I hope we can all help to out these type of people from this hobby and our local community. Tbo, this made me almost quit the hobby due to my lost in faith in the reefer community. But I've also met so many (more good than bad) other hobbyist like Anthony (slatwaternooby) who are good people and make this hobby and especially this club what it is. I've been a part of Mars for close to 10 years, and 90% of people I've met here are good people, I'm sad that we have people like that in our community. Again, thank you for reading this, and spreading the word.
And Mike: I welcome you to comment here and let's see what you have to say. I'm very curious.
