"Tanks" for the advice...

[rgG]

Ombligo wrote:
If you ever have to do it again, get a long garden hose and just run it outside from the tank. Ground is generally lower than your tank and the siphon will do the rest (or hook a powerhead/pump to the end in the tank and get it done even faster.

Sorry, wish I had mentioned this before to save you the work.

It's OK. I wanted to use my little vacuum thing to try and get some of the crud out of the rocks, and I wanted recycle some of the water, plus I probably needed the exercise anyway.