If you are using a weldless fitting you would remove that in order to remove the pickup tube. If you have a welded fitting you will have to incorporate a compression style fitting as mentioned earlier.
I use pretty much the same setup that you show in the pictures. However, it looks as though you did not solder the elbow to the straight length of copper coming from the stainless coupler. This will allow air to be sucked into the line as soon as the liquid level gets down to the level of the...
I use a pump with the false bottom and never had a problem. I distribute the wort back on top of the grain bed with a copper distribution pipe slightly submerged under the wort line at a slow rate and the grain bed never channels. I have seen some people pump the wort into a strainer/colander...
We tried Yazoo Brewing Co when we were in Nashville. We then walked to Jackalope Brewing Co. Had a great time at both places. Customers are very friendly had some great conversations.
I have been doing this for 3 years now with a 5 gallon corny. I put the keg in the kegerator at 30-40 psi and I am usually drinking it by day 3. If it needs more co2 I just leave it at 30-40 psi until I am happy with the level of co2. I use a Perlick 575SS faucet with about 5' of 3/16 bevlex...