Two reasons the main is the nut securing the syphon to the cistern has either no seal washer or is not tight enough to cause the seal.
Or it could be the close coupled bolts are not tight enough to form the seal and this may cause some of the flushed water to escape. Try tighten the securing bolts.
The worse senario is having to remove the cistern and replace that doughnut seal. [some nicknamed them doughnuts because of their shape] obtainable in most plumbing stores.
Bob
January 2009