Nice work!
FYI, In an open loop system like that, static pressure does have influence on the pump and flow rate.
For example, if the inlet reservoir has water about 1' higher in elevation than the pump and it's a free fall. The pump will produce a performance curve equal to it's normal pumping curve + 1' H2O. But as that 1' lowers, the performance curve will slowly lower to the normal curve.
Static pressure doesn't do anything in a closed loop because it cancels itself out coming back down and around the loop, but it does matter in open loops, so keep an eye on that.
Anyhow this was an observation I made from some of my bucket pump testing I did a long time ago...bucket elevations do make a difference on flow rate for pumps in bucket tests.
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