Eheim Pro 3e

[Kitkat]

Hi all,
I have some questions about the Eheim Pro 3e; I have a client's tank I look after and he has one of these filters... from that experience, I'm not thrilled with it. He has it hooked up to some lilly pipes, which looks nice, but I am wondering if it is not intended for that as it takes over half an hour for me to get the d@%* thing started. I fill it with water and prime until my hand hurts, then plug in and it does its "air bleeding" thing for a painfully long time before it actually starts.

Does anyone else have theirs hooked up to "lilly pipes"? How does that work for you? Any tips on starting?

Anyone else find that the red release button is very hard to push? This is another of my beefs with this filter.

Thanks for any input. I'd love to sit down with a new 3e some day, I hear great things about it I'm just not experiencing that bliss with this one.