Brian, honestly, I can tell no difference between the two pumps. It MIGHT help some, but not a ton.
Brandon, just pull the valve and the pump will plug right into the tube. The pump outlet and the plastic on the intake are the same size, so you have to use the tube as a coupler. I think it sitting higher up helps alot. The CSS65 I got from Brian is about 2" below the surface, and my other one has a different valve in between (I broke the original valve, and I guess I replaced it with a generic, but smaller one, I thought I had removed it) so it's right about 3". I'll be removing this valve as well, should help it some.