I think testing your levels, proper maintenance and being knowledgeable about your livestock makes you an advanced reefer. What you keep makes no difference.
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That's a good way to see it.
"Advanced" - Being at a higher level than others
"Reefer" - One who reefs; one who keeps a reef tank
Others being who exactly??
No matter what someone's knowledge in this hobby there's still constant learning.
That means everyone is an advanced reefer (except two people) and its all relative. I say except two people because if the def for advanced is 'Being at a higher level than others' then you must be at a higher level than at least two people because others is plural. Sorry bottom two reefers in the world your not advance. (BTW that was all a joke)That's the Webster dictionary definition, not mine.
What the heck, I still have no clue what I'm doing.
No disrespect, I just think one has to be careful starting discussions on what's expensive and what's not, on what's advanced and what's not, as it can come off pretty elitest.
Agreed Pete. I suspect that the more one learns, the more one realizes how much they don't know. I'm new. I have little to no experience. I spent far more than I should have, or had to, on my tank. I've killed more pieces than I've sustained it seems, and I am having an absolute blast doing so. I'm not advanced, but I'm advancing, however slowly. LOL
I'm not sure how official any of these rankings are anyway. There is no credentialing process that I'm aware of for reef keeping. Maybe we need to start a graduate program
Well here's the thing, if you asked if keeping SPS is more advanced than LPS or zoas I would have voted yes. However you asked if it bakes you an "Advanced Reefer" so I voted no...
An Advanced Reefer has successfully kept multiple different types of corals including Zoas, LPS, SPS, NPS and possibly even the decorative sponges. An advanced reefer understands the more advanced topic of the reefing hobby like the relationship between the chemical parameters we all shoot for. Everyone has a target and can add solution to get there, an advanced reefer will know why something isn't increasing as fast as it should. An advanced reefer has personal experience on how to treat different tank pests, fish diseases and coral ailments. This advanced reefer has these solutions at the tip of their tongue ready to provide this information where the situation calls for it. An advanced reefer has dabbled in multiple different tank methods or tank equipment and knows the benefits of each device in each ecosystem. Finally an advanced reefer is one who "normal" reefers can look up to and trust their judgement when they give advice because they know the past accomplishments of said advanced reefer.
For example, I am what I would call a "Normal" reefer. I can successfully keep SPS, LPS, NPS, Zoas, and softies without many issues. I have dabbled in different lighting technologies and tried some of the newer methods of reef keeping. However my advice is based on personal experience and should be taken with a grain of salt. Verify what I say and feel free to refute the opinion with your opinion or even better, facts!
A second example would be Randy. I consider him to be an advanced reefer with solid expert strength in chemistry on top. He always has good advice and to be honest, if he said to do something chemistry related I would follow without question. That's because I trust his judgement and his knowledge on the hobby.
I would have to say 85% of the reefers on this site and 95% of the reefers not on this site I would put in the normal or newbie categories. What you keep or years in the hobby do not make you advanced. Knowledge and wisdom related to the hobby gets you that title.
My orange monti digitata grows like a weed and my acans die every time -- 'course I am just a hack....
Advanced Reefer = Grow + Survive + Make Money by selling FRAGS