HOW TO GROW A MONTE CARLO CARPET WITHOUT CO2

Grow a Monte Carlo carpet without using CO2

Monte Carlo (Micranthemum tweediei) is one of the most popular carpeting plants in the aquascaping hobby, but it also has quite a few myths surrounding how best to grow it. For a long time, it was gatekept by the high-tech, CO2-using section of the hobby. However, as more and more people experiment with it, they have found it can grow perfectly fine without any CO2 at all. Though there are some specific things you need to do to make it work. In this guide, I’ll show you how you can grow a Monte Carlo carpet without CO2.

IMPORTANT: Before we even get started, I want to mention that there is no such thing as carpeting seeds. All carpeting seeds you see listed for sale are a common scam. They are not aquatic plants and will die a few weeks after you fill your tank with water, causing a huge ammonia spike that will kill everything in your tank. In rare cases where the seeds are aquatic plants, they are Hygrophila polysperma, which is an invasive pest species in many countries. It’s also not a carpeting plant and will fill your entire water column as it reaches for the light. Here’s a full guide on the scam if you’re curious.

CAN YOU GROW MONTE CARLO WITHOUT CO2

You sure can, and I’m going to show you exactly how in a few simple steps. It’s also not that expensive either. When you finish this guide, make sure you read this one next: CARPETING YOUR AQUARIUM? AVOID THESE ANIMALS If you choose the wrong animals, you will ruin any chance of having a nice carpet!

1. Tank Setup & Cost

For starters, you don’t need to spend a lot of money to get a good result. Here's my budget setup:

• Tank: $20 (roughly 25 litres or 6 gallons)

• Light: $10, a basic aquarium light that supports plant growth

• Aqua Soil: I used Jiban, a good-quality substrate, but any decent aqua soil will work

• Filter: While not 100% required, it’s best to add one. A hang-on back is probably the best option.

This is all you need to grow a Monte Carlo carpet without any CO2

2. Choosing the Right Substrate (Aqua Soil)

A good substrate is the most important part of the process and probably the most expensive part of the build. Aqua soil provides the nutrients, and always seems to get Monte Carlo powering along early.

• I used Jiban aqua soil, though not the cheapest option, you don't need much for a small tank.

• I laid the soil about 1 inch thick across the tank, with a slightly higher layer at the back to create some depth.

This will give the Monte Carlo a nutrient-rich base to anchor itself and start spreading.

What about in a dirted tank?

You could also try using a dirted tank with pond soil that is capped with sand. However, I generally find that the thickness of the sand cap that is required to lock in the soil base prohibits the monte carlo from getting its roots into the nutrient base quick enough. Thus stalling growth and sometimes preventing it entirely. This is the main reason I stick with aquasoil.

PRO TIP: Never get Moss Balls! They are nightmare fuel!

3. Lighting

Lighting is really important to keeping your Monte Carlo healthy and promoting its growth. You don’t need anything fancy or expensive, just a basic light that can grow plants. However, you will need to make sure your light is powerful enough to reach the bottom of the tank. The deeper your tank, the more powerful your light should be. For small tanks like the one I’m using, just about any light will be powerful enough.

I used a $10 light, but any standard aquarium light will do. Something cheap like this Amazon light is fine.

• Initially, I had the light running for 10 hours a day. But after the first four weeks, I reduced the lighting to 8 hours per day to avoid algae growth.

Monte Carlo doesn't need super intense lighting, but it does need consistency. Keep your light on a regular schedule to mimic natural daylight cycles. 8-10 hours a day seems to work best.

If money isn’t something you’re too worried about, I highly recommend Skylight Entriq Lights. They aren’t cheap, but boy are they good!

4. Planting the Monte Carlo (2 methods)

There are actually two ways you can start Monte Carlo. A wet start (most common) or a dry start (less common) Both have their advantages, though lately I have found myself favouring the dry start method. I’ll explain why in a second.

WET START METHOD

For the wet start method, you’ll need to do the following.

• Break up the Monte Carlo into smaller clumps/pieces.

• Plant it deeply and closely together to help it spread evenly. For my tank, I used four small 6-centimeter containers of Monte Carlo and spread them evenly across the substrate.

• Fill the tank really, really slowly so that it doesn’t float up.

Using the wet start method, you “usually” don’t have as much melt back, but it has a tendency to float up sometimes you make sure you plant it deep and fill the tank with water very slowly.

Here's a couple of example of how well Monte Carlo does without CO2

Once planted, give it some time, after about one to two months, your carpet will start to fill in nicely. Oh, and I made the mistake of adding mossballs to my tank. Don’t add these damn things to your tanks they are a nightmare to deal with as they spread and start to take over everything.

DrySTART METHOD

• For the dry start method, break up the Monte Carlo into even smaller bits, the smaller the better, then lay them across the surface of your aqua soil, and cover as much of it as possible. Below is a good example of coverage.

Dry starting Monte Carlo for a no CO2 Carpet

• When you have covered the entire surface area of your tank, spray it down lightly so that it pushes the Monte Carlo into the aquasoil. Don’t spray it too much, as you don’t want the tank to fill up with water. It just needs to be moist.

• OPTIONAL: Next, add some springtails to your tank. These little critters will take care of any mould and eat any decaying sections of the plant. I highly suggest doing this if you have the option.

Add springtails to a monte carlo dry start to boost it's success

• Now you need to cover the tank fully with a lid or some cling wrap to keep the moisture and humidity in.

• Finally, just mist the tank with water a couple of times per week and let it set for 6 to 8 weeks. Once you see that the plants have taken root and spread you can fill the tank with water. Again just make sure you fill it really, really slowly.

• You may get a little meltback after a couple of weeks as the leaves convert to their underwater variation but you shouldn’t have any issues with floating.

The video below demonstrates the dry start process very well, though I am using CO2 in this build for a couple of the demanding stem plants at the back of the tank. If it wasn’t for those plants, this tank would work perfectly fine without any CO2.

5. Caring for Your Carpet

Even without CO2, your Monte Carlo will grow well if you take care of it. Here are some tips to ensure long-term success:

• Trimming: Once the carpet reaches about 1.5 inches in height, trim it down. If you don't trim it regularly, the bottom layer can start to die off due to lack of light. When this happens it can float to the surface which almost always means a tank restart.

• Algae Control: In the early stages of your tank, it's normal to experience some algae. I had a few algae issues in the first few weeks, but this subsided as the tank matured. If algae becomes a problem, reduce your light exposure slightly or introduce algae-eating shrimp or snails. Just make sure you avoid these species as they will ruin your carpet.

After trimming, your carpet might look a little scruffy, but don't worry—it will bounce back and continue to grow.

6. FERTILIZING YOUR NO CO2 MONTE CARLO CARPET

If you used a fairly decent aquasoil and have some fish shrimp and snails in your tank you probably won’t have to fertilize your tank for the first 12 -18 months. So far that has been my experience. However, if you have a lot of other hungry plants in your tank as well you should start dosing some micro and macro nutrients after about 6 months just to make sure things stay nice and healthy. Generally, NO3 and PO4 will be enough though.

No CO2 Monte Carlo carpet aquarium after 18 months

No CO2? No Problem!

Many people believe that CO2 is necessary to grow a Monte Carlo carpet, but that’s not true. While adding CO2 can speed up growth and make your plants look a bit fuller, it’s not essential for success. My tank has no CO2, and I’ve had great results.