Monte Carlo

Monte Carlo (Micranthemum tweediei, also circulated as Micranthemum sp. 'Monte Carlo') is a foreground aquatic plant from Argentina bearing small, rounded leaves similar to Pearl Grass. Though often treated as synonymous with New Large Pearl Grass in the trade, distinctions in leaf size and growth habit are sometimes noted. Its principal appeal lies in its capacity to form a green carpet foreground without pressurized CO2 — making it considerably more beginner-accessible than Glossostigma or HC Cuba. Under moderate to bright illumination it spreads laterally via runners, remaining compact and low-growing. Rooting into aquasoil is reliable, and root-tab fertilization encourages vigorous growth. With CO2 supplementation, growth rate and carpet density improve dramatically, allowing a complete foreground to establish in a fraction of the time. Compatible with shrimp tanks, Monte Carlo has earned a permanent place in both beginner and competition-level aquascaping.

Root tabs