I'd Really Like To Change My Substrate

[Kelsyann]

I have a 10 gallon that finished cycling about 2 weeks ago. In it I have one male Betta and 4 Peppered Cory cats. Right now there is a thin, and I mean thin, layer of aquarium gravel (all I had when I started the tank) plus some bigger rocks, fake plants and a hidey hole. I would really like to change my substrate to sand as I feel the corys are having a hard time eating with the gravel. I know the gravel holds a lot of the bacteria, but here's what I was thinking:
-Remove all the fish and put in a clean 5 gallon bucket with aquarium water.
-Take out aqll the decorations and also place them in aquarium water
-Take out about half the gravel with my fish net and spread the rest around.
-Add sand on top of remaining gravel.
-Put all the decorations back in and let the whole tank run for about an hour.
-Put all the fish back in and check water conditions twice daily to make sure everything goes smoothly.

Does this sound like it'll work? I just want the fish to be happier in their home

I also want to add some real plants, I'm assuming I should do this a few weeks after the substrate change so I don't pile too many changes on at once.
Thanks for reading this
All suggestions welcome!

 

[Alliecat420]

your plan will work just fine.. but although the gravle has some bacteria in it .. it dosnt nearly have as much as the filter.. so it wont be a very drastic change.. and you could add plants right away.. as soon as you change the substrate

 

[dcarmor927]

I Agree, the amount of bacteria in the substrate is not as significant as the filter's level. you dont have to keep the tank decor under water tho, also when you refill the tank up, make sure you use at least 50% of the old water so its not too bad of a change for the fish, unless the water params are exactly like your tap...also you shouldnt have to let the tank run, the bacteria that is stirred up will settle either in the filter or on the substrait

gl

 

[Kelsyann]

Thanks guys, I read somewhere that I needed to keep decour in water too. And I was planning on using most of my old water anyway. I think I'll plan to change things up this weekend!