Aperture Slow Performance

Aperture 3 is running very slow on my MacBook Pro Retina 2012...I think a big factor might be that I have roughly 20,000 photos/videos in my library, and the library is stored on my external drive as a managed one. I have a WD 2TB Firewire 800 (I use a Firewire 800 to Thunderbolt adapter to use it) external...I know that Firewire 800 is extremely slow compared to USB 3.0 and Thunderbolt. But is there any way I could boost Aperture's performance?

Every time I open up Aperture, it is "Processing". This will last easily 1-2 hours, making it barely useable. Most of the time it will give me a spinning rainbow wheel and I will have to force quit. Should I create separate libraries because mine is decently large? I really would like to keep all of my photos/videos in one location on my external, but if keeping everything on the local drive would be better, I can try that. Any advice would be GREATLY appreciated. Thanks!