where at in Colorado?! i'm in aurora - it isn't that bad out there, i think its awesome! i even made it to work and to home depot to pick up some gravel and screen to get my new tank set up. i'm waiting for fedex to get here with my hood though, i hope they went to work today! lol.
i mix my fake and real plants, they get along just fine

and i just use eco-earth for substrate and the live ones i got at petco are growing quite well in it!
Monty looks like a happy lil' dude, i'm sure he'd love more branches/vines and hidey spots too :}