[Jennewt]

I use the regular gravel-vac (siphon with a fat end on it), but I hold my finger over the outflow to better control the speed of water flow. If it's a bit slower it works just fine. If I do siphon out a small amount of sand, I don't worry about it. In most cases I have more sand than needed, and I can always replenish it if I need to. In several years I've never needed to.