i have the same problem with mine being cloudy as soon as you touch something in the tank. kind of annoying. My guess is that he just filled it up not long before he took the photo. it took about 5 hours for my BC 29 to clear up when i filled it and the every time i touch a rock or move sand it clouds up a bit then clears in about 2 hours.
did your buddy have anything in the tank prior to you buying it?
How much rock do you have in there? and won't the "new forced cycle" from the deli shrimp you put in there kill the snail on the glass?
GL on the CUbe!!