How long can I keep live rocks cycling in a rubbermaid tub?

[Rice Reef]

Seeking advice and opinions...
I will be doing a full cleaning of my main tank and then doing a new reefscape. This may take three to five weeks and while doing so can I cycle the rocks in a rubbermaid with power heads running until I am ready to rescape the tank? I plan to aerate the rocks maintain the temperature and running GFO and carbon and do water changes but is it necessary to use lights or ok to cycle the rocks in darkness?

Thanks

Wayne