IME Using Rod's food is cheaper then doing all of that, and it is far easier. In my 11 years in the hobby now, it is the best food on the market that I have found.
JME
I used to use Tropic Marin exclusively as I could get it for free, but after switching to Reef Crystals (free salt water ran out) I never noticed a difference in my tanks. My salt mixing container is cleaner after using TM and smells less like a health food store, but I do not notice a difference myself.
I use Rubbermaid tubs myself, quite a few of them. Moving sucks and I get tired. So if I have to quit,t he fish can stay in the rubbermaid overnight with a powerhead and a heater. Same with the rock in a different rubbermaid, same with the coral in a different, well you get the picture.
I also like that the rubbermaids have lids so there is no splashing. I got mine that are 33g on sale for less then $10 a piece.
When I moved my tank 1000 miles from California I used the battery operated air pumps, and they did well. I used a power converter to run heaters. Sounds like this will not be an issue for you though if it is just cross town.
I would have loved to. We managed to kill all of the lillies and Iriss. The lillies are coming back but no flowers yet. I managed to kill something that is an invasive weed in it's country of orgin. Maybe Peggy and I should talk.
I'll text you tomorrow and work out the details.
I use only DI, no RO, no waste water. The water here is clean enough to get away with it.
A few years ago in a different state I used it to fill the washer.
Long term this will not work. It is not possible to completely match the output of two separate pumps longterm.
If there is no way to rearrange the plumbing and "un close" the loop the only other option I could see would be to use a type of HOB skimmer, or HOB refugium with a chamber for a skimmer.
You could pump water up to a type of skimmer made to be used externally and have the water gravity feed back into the system.
The other option would be to use an overflow box.
IME I would stay away from cannister filters, they are more trouble then they are worth IMHO, even with your predicament.
Is drilling the tank not an option? Tempered?
JMO, HTH
From what I understand about Bob, he was the same 20 years ago. I was a bit shocked too.
I saw Jethro Tull quite a few years ago. Ian Anderson came out in a wheelchair covered in a blanket and played the most pathetic flute for the first two or three minutes. Then he jumped up and danced around like mad. But at first I thought, damm this dude is to old to rock and roll.
Dude I am on vacation, I will be back in town soon. I can give you clippings of several things.
Red grape, ochotodes, codium, halmedia, prolifera, taxifloria, sorry but the sargassum is not happy after the move.
What do you have to trade?