Interesting, the Bionova is basically pond/bog plantings where the water is forcibly pumped through the root systems and gravel. A glorified large under-gravel aquarium filter. I LIKE it!

I think you are also over-estimating the maintenance of the bog/wetland filter, which has to be much less than maintenance of a active mechanical filter system. Think when the sand in the filter gets plugged up? Huge project!