Robinanne, never too many questions, especially when it comes to health of your fish. I try to keep a pleco in all my tanks for algae control, however there are a lot of different methods to keep algae down. I too like the way plecos look, their armor and color can be super cool, depending on which ones you choose. Plecos, though, are not mandatory for every tank. They create a lot of waste and will generally grow too large to keep in most aquaria. There are some species that stay small like the rubberlip/rubbernose/bulldog pleco and the bristlenose that both don't grow over 5". If you do get a pleco for your tank, just make sure to research the kind you will buy. The common pleco can get over 2' long and is not suitable for most home aquariums. Hope this helps robinanne.