If I did lift the tank, I would go back to my original flat surface strainers. So water would travel into the overflow box, and naturally just flow through the straight pipe to the sump because that would be path of least resistance. At least that is how it plays out in my head, maybe someone with more experience would/will say otherwise. It would basically extend the tank to the sump as a big power head/internal sump.Yeah I am not sure how well that will work. I'd worry and am worried that with out that drop down to start the water won't go into the pipes. You'll have to try it, but in my mind it doesn't work.