Hi Steve,
The M2600 is 2600GPH. I bought mine used off of RC, but I did find one online store in Canada that carried this particular model:
http://www.aquarecifal.com/magasin/i...Path=38_51_145
For the price of a new one though, it would be better to go with the non-controllable Tunze IMO.
As for the hard starting problem, I haven't had any issues yes. *knock on wood*