Looking for help with water heater

It is - I just change them every year at winterization, I but them two at a time. End of the camping year I don't have a tank full of residue from 2 or 3 camping seasons. I start fresh.

Yep...Mine look like the bad one in the picture!

Don't feel bad about your anode rod needing replacement.  That's the reason they call it a sacrificial.  They always look ugly when they get corroded away and always leave crud behind.  Just be sure to check it from time to time so you don't corrode your water tank and end up with pin holes.

Thanks for all of your help. After further research I figured out that my anode rod is completely shot. The pieces I see in the water heater compartment are pieces of the rod. All that's left of the rod is a pointy stick that looks like a meat thermometer. I ordered a new rod off of Amazon last night.

Thanks again!

I think what you are seeing is the anode rod that has been removed from the bottom of the tank. It probably was removed to drain the water heater tank when it was winterized.  It looks rusty because the water drained out of the tank and flowed over the bottom of the cavity and pooled there until it dried.  the water in the bottom of the heater can have a lot of mineral deposits.These flakes could also be the mineral deposits from the bottom of the heater. 

If this is all correct, it is pretty normal.
 
However, the fact that the previous owner told you he had burned out the element makes one question the situation. So, it is best to check out the system completely.

Probably the best thing to do is clean up the rod, add some teflon tape to the threads and screw the anode rod back in to the heater.  Make sure the electric switch in the heater compartment is "OFF".  Make sure the winterizing vales are turned correctly to fill the heater and then fill the heater and check for leaks.  You should open a hot water faucet to make sure your water heater actually has water in it.  After you are sure the heater is full, then turn on the electric switch in the heater compartment and the switch inside the pod.  You might need to check the main electrical  panel to make sure the fuse/breaker  is in place and in good shape. Remember that this is just the electric phase of the water heater--it will also work on propane, which is much quicker .Hopefully you will have hot water soon.

That's my guess.
Vann