this tactic will soon be forgotten as very soon we will find out how to maintain our tanks with NO CLEANINGStinaUIUC said:all you have to do is completely fill the tube with water by holding it underwater in the tank to be cleaned, and then cover the end of tube (while keeping the syphon itself in the tank) and remove the end of the tube to whatever you are emptying the water into and uncover it...assuming the emptying location is lower than the tank, the syphon will start sucking.