Fighting convict cichlid couple

Question
Hi Ron,
We bought a pair of convicts from our local pet shop about 2 months ago.  In that time, they've bred once (then ate the wrigglers) then bred again and the fry are about 3 weeks old.
The male is now about twice the size of the female and yesterday we came home to the female lying near the top very still a bit beaten up, fins bitten and the eye bitten too.  He kept on chasing her away and attacking her so we took her out and put her in with our 5 massive fancy goldfish (who are happy at near tropical temps) who she seemed fine with (there are a couple of plecos in with the goldfish too).
However, now the male convict is all alone with the babies and I don't know whether we should put her back in and let them try again or leave her with the goldfish (unless she starts to attack them).
Is it ok to separate a couple?  Will dad eat all the babies!?  I feel like I've upset him by taking his partner away!
Also, are there any algae eaters we could keep with convicts?  We tried a pleco but they kept chasing him away - not attacking him but chasing him to the top so he could only clean a tiny space!
Thanks for your help!

Answer
Hi Ellie,
 I would leave them just as is right now.  If you put the female back, he will likely kill her at this point.  The dad can take care of the babies fine by himself.  

 I generally don't put algae eaters in a tank with convicts because the convicts will always attack them.

-- Ron
  rcoleman@cichlidresearch.com
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