this is how I do it...Fill the filter with water, put it in place. Before placing hoses in the tank I pour water down the hoses using a small kitchen funnel and a jug until they fill. You will hear bubbling in the tank. Start the filter it will bubble out the last of the air and its away.
I gave up on real plants, pleco ate or uprooted them all. every morning they were chomped or floating on the surface. I feed spirulina or vege chips nightly
go with the venturi idea, they work brilliantly, you must be able to get one from somewhere, I reckon with a bit of ingenuity and scrap pipe it wouldn't be too hard to make one
for the price you'll be paying it'd be ok. I bought a similar one about a year ago and its doing the job fine. I dont expect it will last forever. AS with anything, you get what you pay for.
is it very expensive Simian? I was looking for some for a canister I bought. Couldn't find any down here. I ended up putting carbon in instead till i find some sponge.