canister filter - not on but still filled with water

[evil Nick]

I picked up a canister filter about 2 weeks ago (nice rig) and the guy left some of his water in it to keep the bacteria alive. Im pretty sure there are no pathogens in it.
How long can this thing be kept just sitting before the water fouls or bacteria dies off. I wanted to get to it ASAP but started gutting and remodeling a bathroom that turned into a massive project so I have not been able to build my stand yet.

Thanks.
Should I maybe fill a 5 gallon bucket with some of my tank water (after a PWC) and run the filter in that to keep something going?

 

[PassengerTN]

I would guess it has stagnant by now and would need a full restart, but that's just my thought. Circulating old tank water would have been a good idea when you brought it home but now I'm not sure

 

[fish wrangler]

It won't hurt to let the canister circulate water. You might want to try a Rubbermaid bin instead of a bucket depending on the gph of the filter. The water might go over the bucket top.

Sent from my SCH-I545 using Aquarium Advice mobile app

 

[evil Nick]

It won't hurt to let the canister circulate water. You might want to try a Rubbermaid bin instead of a bucket depending on the gph of the filter. The water might go over the bucket top.

Sent from my SCH-I545 using Aquarium Advice mobile app

yeah its a 100gph filter

 

[fish wrangler]

Maybe a ~15 gallon bin would be better. Don't want the water going everywhere.

Sent from my SCH-I545 using Aquarium Advice mobile app

 

[evil Nick]

Maybe a ~15 gallon bin would be better. Don't want the water going everywhere.

Sent from my SCH-I545 using Aquarium Advice mobile app

lol, wish I had that. I would also have no where inside to keep it. Maybe I can find something lying around. The one big bin I have I was going to actually use to keep my fish in while I do my change over.

 

[fish wrangler]

Dollar per gallon sale is going on right now...

Sent from my SCH-I545 using Aquarium Advice mobile app

 

[Delapool]

I leave mine off for several days with no problems but two I left off for a week had a very rotten egg smell to them. I assume it had switched from aerobic to anaerobic bacteria.