* Like bigDave I have marks on the racking cane, some are marker and some are rings from colored silicone straws
* several of my racking canes are made out of PEX or 3/3 polyethylene (as in photo) which was bent after heating over a gas burner so that the shape is more of a “J” than traditional “L”. By being able to wedge the cane close to the side it becomes visible. The racking cane is made for that size carboy.
* there are wedge shape tools that will hold the racking cane where you put it. Almost as efficient is a spring clamp as in the photo that you can clip a racking cane to. Another alternative is hold the cane with a spring pinch clamp.
* I start all siphons with vacuum, this could even be a low vacuum as from a home vacuum cleaner (5” Hg)
* all racking is done on a slanted platform so the clear stuff is deeper
View attachment 86289