Got to echo the chorus here: the Eheim Classic series is extremely quiet, mechanically nearly fool-proof, and priming is a non-issue. Use the supplied double-tap valves on the intake and outflow hoses and you'll only need to prime the intake line the first time you set the filter up, and on those rare occasions when you take the hoses down for cleaning. Since the filter fills with water from the bottom up, all you have to do to prime the filter after cleaning it is hook it up to the intake line, open the outtake valve on the filter, then open the intake valves; as water fills the canister, it pushes the air out. When the water reaches the outtake valve on the filter, close it, hook the filter up to the outtake line, open the outtake valves, and turn the unit on. That's it! And if the idea of loose filter media bothers you, just buy a couple of good filter bags - they work just as well as baskets do, and make cleaning a snap.
