Canister filter shut off - is it still safe?

[BassetsForBrown]

Hi,
I've been away for 2 weeks, and when I finally got home I found my canister filter wasn't running. Still plugged in, but for some reason it just died.
I cleaned out the impeller area, and now it runs fine, but I am concerned about using it without bleaching out the entire inside. If it sat stagnant for 2 weeks, could the beneficial bacteria and everything else have turned into a contaminated sewage crap nest of sorts?
I will of course be changing all the media, but is there a chance of some sort of dangerous entity having grown in there that requires a complete sterilization?
Thanks for your help

 

[DBLN8]

I would break it down and clean it out completely, only because you've know idea if its been off for 2 weeks or 2 hours before you got home. I don't think you need to replace all the media you just need to wash it out real good. Hot water and chlorine will take care of anything that's in there.

 

[neutrino]

Up to you, but before panicking I'd read this article. Lot of common assumptions about beneficial bacteria in adverse conditions are wrong-- and I've also seen that from personal experience with power outages. I know what I'd do but not going to give advice that some may not agree with.

 

[Guapoteguy291]

Clean it out lots of detrius+small amount of water and no air or water movement is bad news