Best Way To Change Half Of The Substrate?

So, I have a fully established 20 gal that is half sand and half gravel, which wasn’t ideal to begin with, and I’ve decided to switch to all sand because I have cories now. They all seem to fine despite living on some gravel, but I want to change BEFORE anything happens, and because something goes wrong.
My plan currently is to move all fish and plants into an established 10, vaccume/scoop out the gravel, add new sand, let things settle, and then move everyone back to the 20.
I mainly ask because I’ve never done this before, and I’ve heard that moving around aquarium decor can make cories sick, and o want to do everything I can to avoid that.
How does my plan look? Any ideas?

 

Sounds good. The fish will be fine. If you can put the filter and run it on the bucket or small aquarium that you put them in during the change, that will be a plus. But if you can't don't worry, they'll be ok. Just put any plants in with them, make sure temperature is stable, and go for it. I've changed gravel for eco complete and have also done dirted bottoms with glass pebbles or sand with fish stuffed into buckets or 10 gallons, and it's always worked. Don't forget to post pics when you're done

 

Awesome!
I will!

 

When I redid the substrate of my 10 gallon I just removed the fish into a bucket, and then I drained the water, kept the filter running on the bucket, then changed the gravel. Easy as that.

 

The only thing I would add is that after you change the substrate and the crud in the water settles do a gravel vac to get iy off the surface of the sand.

 

Good idea!!!