If you have a 7-11 or other convience store around you take some of their straws! I use them for target feeding, flipping snails over and other things. The really long ones have a spoon like part at the end of them which is useful too... Ive even cut one to a point and scraped some coralline off my acrylic. Also, ive taken like 6 of them and put them together (end to end) to help me do things in my 90G and not get wet.
Also, as far as a siphon goes, tho the powerhead idea is the best ive seen, I use another technique from my freshwater days. I never have to suck the tube to get it started, i just take the tube and submerge both ends (and as much of the rest of the tubing) in the water. Once all (or most of) the air is out, cover the ends of the tube with your fingers, leave one end in the tank and put the other to your bucket and then move your hands from capping both ends. Works every time if done right, and if you dont have a powerhead in your tank (like my freshwater or fish only) this is perfect.
Also, as far as a siphon goes, tho the powerhead idea is the best ive seen, I use another technique from my freshwater days. I never have to suck the tube to get it started, i just take the tube and submerge both ends (and as much of the rest of the tubing) in the water. Once all (or most of) the air is out, cover the ends of the tube with your fingers, leave one end in the tank and put the other to your bucket and then move your hands from capping both ends. Works every time if done right, and if you dont have a powerhead in your tank (like my freshwater or fish only) this is perfect.