It seems like the loops don't have to be below the tank..
It looks like the in-&-out lines on this one are from the wall behind the water heater..
My hot water comes from a coil inside of my heating boiler..
the In-&-Out is off the left, top rear of the boiler. So, I can add some
heat trap loops
below the I/O and mount the new mixer above the top lid..