>>5031421
>ecosystems like that don’t really exist in stagnant water
really depends. The first tank i had that was like this quite literately was a replica of stagnant pool.
These fish however don't live in such waters, hence artificial flow.
>The filter just reproduces some of the natural processes that happen in the habitats
Well, most of those processes also happen without it. The filter just compresses most of the work into a small footprint so you can have more fish in the same volume of water.
Ignoring the filtering and stuff aside i just like low population tanks the most anyways.
>And they are more silent than wavemakers.
That is hard to believe. If you think about it its just a filter but without the filter part. Even if that were the case i don't see why you can't run a undersized filter without the filter medium in place of a wavemaker. After all that's what im already sorta doing with the 200L tank. There is no way the few square centimeters of said filter have a measurable effect on that tank.

Might change my mind however. But if i were getting a fulter it would be a Undergravel one Using these artificial filter mediums that die without the pump running just feels wrong. Recreating the sediment currents however also fits my criteria of a 'real' habitat. Don't see why i would need it still. If the tank handles its inhabitants without it saving on potential noise and unneeded complexity is still something i like to do.

Anyways how long does it take for corydora to grow this big? I have kept some healthy ones for years and they never looked this menacing. Usually new fish like to hide and don't eat for a bit but this one confidently chills in the open and eats in front of everyone. I really like this behavior.