I agree with the original poster.
I am the experienced 'reef expert'.
What's my ability to say that. I have been keeping saltwater aquariums for over 35 years. I have kept just about every type of saltwater fish and coral at one time or another.
I have worked in a fish store, I have started a company that builds custom saltwater aquariums, I have started a transhipping business, I have started and run a frag farm, I have traveled the world to teach people how to collect and ship corals, I have owned collection stations, I have run a very successful wholesale coral business, I have run my local reef club, and I have been invited to speak at clubs across the country as well as conventions.
Oh, and to keep up with topic of the thread, heres a photo from October.
I have the experience, the knowledge, and the photo - I feel confident calling myself a 'Reef Expert'.
For those reading this post, and just itching to try to challenge me, you can find my posts all across the internet. I have shared my many successes in this hobby, and have also posted my many failures and tank crashes.
Now I am only calling myself a 'Reef Expert' because that title has become part of the topic of this thread. But if you meet me, I'm just Dave B, I'm a hobbyist and I am a coral addict.
I'm pretty active on numerous forums and facebook. And I am probably capable of being able to answer the vast majority of questions people post looking for help, guidance, experience.
But I read a thread with people 'Telling What Needs To Be Done', regurgitating someone else's opinion and speaking with such authority it makes me ill. And people that speak with such authority and sometime condescendion (Not sure how to spell that exactly), should be able to back that attitude up with some proof of success.
You should have some accomplishment in this hobby and be proud of it. You don't have to have a 200g tank with wall to wall exotic corals. But show me a well kept tank, with something in it thriving that isn't bryopsis or coraline. Have at least one thing in your tank that is growing, and mutliplying and flourishing - because you have built a great aquarium and are able to maintain it.
People should know the reach of their knowledge. People with a 40g tank (whether successful or not) should not be giving advice to someone asking for help on flow and plumbing for a 400g tank - No your China made knock off pump that has only been in the market, with a poor track record for 12 months is not applicable to a 400g tank.
But this is what happens 1000s of time a day on every popular forum. There are very few experts who post their knowledge. There are a few, and I don't have to name names, who are diligent in their attempt to help as many people as possible.
But for some of us, it's frustrating (if not infuriating) to constantly have our opinion condemned by multiple people who have not been in this hobby long enough to go through a full box of salt.
All of us, including myself, come to the forums to try to increase our knowledge so that we can take better care of our aquariums. Whether equipment, corals or fish, we all want to learn more to keep our livestock happier and living longer.
And in this modern world, where everyone with a screen name has the equal ability to post their opinion and give instruction, I do want to be able see if the person posting really has the experience or knowledge to point me in the right direction.
Dave B
but only because a friend that just got into the hobby bought one because the guy at LFS said it "would do fine" then he researched his impulse buy after the fact and asked me to take it from him. Otherwise I wouldn't 
