Okay here is my opinion (and it's called an opinion, because it is neither right nor wrong...come on people, remember those civics classes??). I completely agree with Germanman on the fact that being able to do competant research is a skill that is learned and not everyone can do it. But let me pose you this question. You have two "experts" on fishkeeping....
Subject A just graduated with a PhD in zoology, with an undergraduate degree in biochemistry. So, this person has had 6+ years of very expensive schooling, knows how an aquarium should be balanced down to the molecular level. BUT this person has never had his own aquarium. Has never had any hands on experience balancing a tank under less than optimum conditions as are presented in his state of the art lab. Oh, he's watched his undergrad assistants struggle with bucket after bucket of dead/dying fish and invertebrates as he's experimented, but that's as far as he's gone towards having a tank of his own.
Subject B doesn't have a college degree. Has worked odd jobs his whole life, none related to fish or aquarium sciences. BUT this person has had an aquarium since he was old enough to read the instructions on the Penn Plax sponge filter box. He started with a goldfish in a bowl and eventually worked his way towards a SW reef tank. He has many tanks in his home, complete with several rare species he has had the extreme pleasure of breeding. There isn't a plaque hanging on his wall proclaiming him a scientist, but he is one in his own right.
Subject A and Subject B both actively post on several fishkeeper related boards.
NOW- the question...who do you take advice from? Who is the expert? He with the degree and the paper diploma to prove it? Or the humble man, breeding fish in his basement?
I don't know about you, but I don't think a diploma makes a fishkeeper. Now, before you start bashing me about not respecting those with a degree, let me tell you, I have one in Biology/Psychology with an emphasis on animal behavior. Does that make me a better fishkeeper? In one word, No. But it does help me with researching and formulating ideas and teesting them out. That's what this hobby is all about. Testing things that have worked for others and coming up with our own way of doing things. It's called discovery...something the human race is very good at, with or without a formal education.
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