Flashing light help

[silentspidey]

So i come home and my light over my 20g is off. but the switch was on.
so i turned the switch off and then back on. the light came on for about a 20 secs and then began to flash. so i got a new bulb and its still flashing.
what can i do to stop this flashing. is that ok to still use on the plants till i replace or fix

[cichlid1409]

sounds like the ballast is going out.

[wesleydnunder]

Yup, could be the ballast or the starter. The starter is the little cylinder that plugs in under some fluorescent fixtures. If the fixture has a rapid-start or instant-start ballast then it won't have a starter.

Mark

[silentspidey]

whats instant start. instant light when i hit the switch? well its 2 bulbs and there both flashing at the same time. so if its the ballast is bad i have to buy a whole new everything?

[cichlid1409]

just a new ballast.

[lilmissruffcountry]

whats instant start. instant light when i hit the switch? well its 2 bulbs and there both flashing at the same time. so if its the ballast is bad i have to buy a whole new everything?

Go to the Home depot an ask for a light balast starter first..it may just be the little "ignighter" is toast.

costs like $2 for 2 of them