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Other Scavengers
In addition to snails, you can use other scavengers to help keep your pool or aquarium clean and tidy. These include:
Freshwater Mussel. A few mussels in your tank to every 10 gallons of water will do a lot of good. They will extract algae and other living matter from the water around them. They are not as useful in outdoor pools as they die easily and will decompose in the water. However, they are inexpensive and you can even dig up your own in some areas.
Frogs. Frogs make a lovely sound that can be a feature in any pool but many water gardeners see them as a danger to their fish. While frogs can eat a fish around its own size, it is unlikely that a frog will catch the fish unless it is a slow-moving fancy breed. However, frogs are fairly useless as scavengers, although they are often sold as scavengers nonetheless.
Salamander. Like the frog, these animals are often described as scavengers when they are in fact not. They live principally on insects and their quick movements add life to a pond. They will not harm fish and should be considered for aesthetic beauty.
Weatherfish. Of all the alternatives to snails, Weatherfish are perhaps the best. They are good scavengers that inhabit the bottom of an aquarium, burrowing into the sand as they feed. They are excellent for large aquariums as they stop the sand from compacting too much. Try and get these around the 3 or 4-inch size as they roll the water less. They can also work in pools, though they cannot be seen as they stay near the bottom.