Rofl you tell people that you are right, and yet you yourself are googling this information? So you don't get the credit should, in any case are right(which i don't think you are, my dad has 11 fighting fish with no plants in each container. They're still fine.). And, don't tell others to be open minded when you yourself are too selfish to take in what indy said. You may, or may not be right, but at least your method could work, so respect what he says too. What makes you think i googled that info? Im telling him to google it, since i dont want to explain all fish keeping info. For goldfish its acceptable to have no plants (its not good, but...), but for fighting fish...thats just plain stupid. I think you know about fish as much, as a dog knows about carrots. I truly hope you havent got more than 1 male fighting fish in aquarium-that would not just be stupid, it would be..[cabbage] stupid...and i hope its at least 50 litres( still might be too small, 100l would be great, more likley you havent got those fish...you just wanted to shine (i might be wrong tho...i hope it wount turn out as a flame war). And the open minded part was because he didnt wanted to admit, that plants absorbe nitrates etc. :shame: