Thank you, that's very kind of you. I ordered some standard java fern that's supposed to be shipping out soon, but if that doesn't pan out I'd love some. I got a nicrew slimLED light from Amazon. I don't have, or plan on setting up, CO2. My understanding was that monte carlo would benefit from CO2, and grow much faster with it, but that it wasn't as necessary as decent lighting. If it doesn't work out I'd try another carpeting plant of some kind. I've been watching some George Farmer, he's great! Very mellow. The resources on youtube are fantastic. Thanks again for your help and the generous offer.

I looked into that previously (to be honest I *might* have gotten GWAPA and PVAS mixed up in a google search when I came here- but looking at it now I've definitely been on GWAPA's website). It's something I considered but right now I just have the one tank, with no plans to expand any time soon so I'm not sure it makes a ton of sense. The advice I've found online has been to try a bunch of different plants and see what sticks with your water and the level of care you can provide as a beginner. I've mostly been sticking with "easy" plants. Unfortunately I didn't check the weather nationwide a couple weeks ago and ordered at the worst possible time. I had a small batch of Ludwigia Arcuata, Crypt Wendtii Green, Hemainthus Micranthemoides UNS Tissue Culture and Alternanthera Reineckii Rosanervig Tissue Culture arrive cold and in rough shape last week. That's all planted, but I'm not sure how well it's doing or what will make it long term. I was particularly bummed as being a beginner, I feel it's hard to gauge how much of it going wrong is the condition they arrived in, and me. I had another order of Cyrpt Lucens, Hydrocotyle Tripartita, Windelov java fern, monte carlo and a Pogostemon Stellatus Octopus never show up. I've since ordered another batch of hornwort, thor's hammer java fern, java fern, christmas moss, and some more ludwigia arcuata that has yet to ship. I'm primarily looking for the windelov java fern and monte carlo, and maybe a few crypts, but would also enjoy seeing what else is out there in-person. TLDR: windelov java fern and monte carlo in particular.

Awesome, thank you! Will do!