{"product_id":"monte-carlo-gold-coast","title":"Monte Carlo Gold Coast | Micranthemum tweediei 'Monte Carlo'","description":"\u003ch2\u003eDescription\u003c\/h2\u003e\u003cp\u003eMonte Carlo is one of the friendliest carpeting plants going around, and this is the locally grown Gold Coast strain. It forms a low cushion of tiny round leaves across the foreground, and it is far more forgiving than dwarf baby tears while giving a similar fresh green lawn.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch2\u003eNatural Habitat\u003c\/h2\u003e\u003cp\u003eThe species hails from Argentina, where it grows along damp stream margins, creeping over wet ground and rock in bright light. In the aquarium it recreates that habit best when planted into a nutrient-rich substrate under good light, and it will grow submerged once settled even though nursery stock is usually raised emersed.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch2\u003eAppearance\u003c\/h2\u003e\u003cp\u003eA healthy carpet is a dense mat of small, rounded, bright green leaves on fine creeping stems, sitting only a couple of centimetres tall. Left to grow it will layer and thicken to around 3–5 cm before trimming. The portion sold is a young clump or mat that you split and spread out; it fills in over several weeks as the runners knit together.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch2\u003ePlacement and Aquascaping\u003c\/h2\u003e\u003cp\u003eA foreground carpeting plant. Plant small portions a few centimetres apart across open substrate so they can spread and join up, and trim the top of the carpet regularly to keep it low, dense and stopping it lifting off the substrate in thick sheets.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch2\u003ePlanting and Propagation\u003c\/h2\u003e\u003cp\u003eRemove any pot and rockwool and rinse the roots, then separate the mat into small tufts and push each gently into the substrate with tweezers. It propagates readily by runners and by simple division of the mat, so replant trimmings to expand the carpet.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch2\u003eCare Requirements\u003c\/h2\u003e\u003cp\u003eModerate to high light gives the tightest, lowest carpet; under low light it grows leggy and reaches upward. CO2 is not strictly required but is highly beneficial and makes carpeting far quicker and denser. Feed with root tabs plus a liquid fertiliser, keep the water 20–25 °C, pH around 6.0–7.5, and growth is moderate to fast once established.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch2\u003eSpecies Information\u003c\/h2\u003e\u003ctable\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eScientific Name\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eMicranthemum tweediei 'Monte Carlo'\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eCommon Name\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eMonte Carlo, Gold Coast Monte Carlo\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eOrigin\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eArgentina\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eMaximum Height\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003e3–5 cm\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eGrowth Rate\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eModerate to Fast\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eDifficulty\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eBeginner to Intermediate\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003ePlacement\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eForeground\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eLighting\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eModerate to High\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eCO2 Requirement\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eBeneficial\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eFertilisation\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eRoot tabs plus liquid fertiliser\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eWater Temperature\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003e20–25 °C\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003epH Range\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003e6.0–7.5\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eGH Range\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eSoft to moderately hard\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003ePropagation\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eRunners and division of the mat\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eSalinity\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eNot applicable (freshwater)\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eSuitable For\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eForeground carpets in planted community tanks and aquascapes\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003c\/table\u003e\n\u003ch2\u003eSuitable Tank Mates\u003c\/h2\u003e\u003cp\u003eSmall community fish, shrimp and snails leave it alone and shrimp in particular love grazing the carpet. It pairs well with tetras, rasboras, dwarf cichlids and peaceful nano fish.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch2\u003eAvoid Keeping With\u003c\/h2\u003e\u003cp\u003eDiggers and uprooters such as large goldfish, big cichlids and burrowing loaches will tear a young carpet apart before it can anchor. Very low light will also cause it to grow tall and thin rather than carpet.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eAustralian-grown aquarium plants for in-store collection or delivery Australia wide. Sold sizes\/portions reflect what we stock; anything shown as sold out will return as we restock.\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Nick's Aquarium Oceanarium Terrarium","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":55234105999651,"sku":"AA1281","price":12.95,"currency_code":"AUD","in_stock":false}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0972\/7236\/5347\/files\/monte-carlo-gold-coast-43078223266083-v2.webp?v=1790321587","url":"https:\/\/nicksaquariumoceanariumterrarium.com.au\/products\/monte-carlo-gold-coast","provider":"Nicks AOT","version":"1.0","type":"link"}