Lolito_fr and Boli,
I already tested the reservior in the water lab (kitchen

) and the pump did try to spin the water in the reservior when it was below the top of the inlet. But when the water was above the top of the inlet it was pumping water just fine, so I believe it will be okay in a closed system with a ½ liter or so of water pressure from the top of the system.
It did seem to pump noticeably faster than before the modification. As I have no real measurements before and after, it's just a visual observation from recollection.