Upgrade from 29g to 55g.

[pulsby]

I recently upgraded my 29g cichlid tank into my brand new 55g. Here are the specs.

--55 gal African Cichlid tank. HOB 200gph, internal canister filter/powerhead 200gph, 100w heater, 2 undergravel filters, 2 24" lights. Fish: 1 Electric Yellow, 1 Five Bar Blue (Tanganyika), 1 Albino Red Fin Peacock, 1 Blotched Zebra, 1 Auratus Mbuna, 1 Bristle Nosed Pleco, 1 Chinese Algae eater, 1 Striped Raphael.--

All of my cichlids are babies (I just sold my 4 fully raised for enough to buy the new tank ). I know I should get a few more algae eaters (I was thinking Otocinclus Cats), but should I get a few more similar sized cichlids while these are still young or do I have plenty? Also any advice would be great, still kind of a newbie.

[CA_BroncoFan]

I dont know much about the africans but im not sure otos would be a good idea for africans. I would try to find out the source of your algae if it is a problem.

[mattrox]

Try bristenose instead of otos they will be too small and may get eaten.

[pulsby]

The algae is not a problem, when I had my 29g I would use my Coralife plant light for about 4 or 5 days a month to grow a nice "carpet" on my rocks. It never grows enough to cover the glass or my substrate, just the undergravel filter tubes get some at the top and the tops of the rocks that are exposed to the light. I discovered this when I tried to keep a planted tank and nothing would grow except this light algae (My water is TOO hard, 8.0-8.2).

I just bought another bristlenose and another CAE yesterday as well as, and this makes me nervous, a red tipped shark. My daughter has a fascination with sharks and this is the closest we can get. It should be fine bc it is much bigger than my Cichlids now, we'll see.