Recently I bought a fish tank from a friend, complete with fish.

The tank is a Boyu but I'm not sure what model, even searching on the internet has come up blank because even though I can find ones that look similar / the same, when I measure mine is seems a different size to the ones I've found.

The light has always made quite a loud buzzing noise when first turned on, but after a while it settles down.

However, last night I awoke from my slumber on the sofa to find that the light was now flashing on and off.

Any suggestions what it could be? My research has determined that it could be either the bulb, the ballast or the starter, but I'm not sure which it's most likely to be.

Does anyone have any suggestions?

My first suspicion would be the starter.
What type of lighting do you have?
Assuming you have fluorescent lighting,B&Q will have replacement starters for about £1

Yes its a fluorescent light, I suppose as you say it's the cheapest place to start....

Replaced the starter canister (after driving around half of newcastle trying to find one!) but it hasn't fixed it. The bulb does look a bit discoloured, so I'm thinking the bulb has gone.

Its not easy to get a bulb for this tank (which I have found out today is a Boyu MT508A); They appear to be a Chinese make and not many places stock the parts, and those that do don't seem to have a bulb specifically for this tank.

I hope the fish don't mind being in the dark because I think it could take up to a week for me to get a replacement and none of the usual suspects have these bulbs.

There are many bulbs that are from different makers for different situations in aquariums like growing plants etc. I've replaced all mine no problems. You don't need to buy the same bulb that came with the tank. Is your bulb a long tube with the two pins at each end. If so just take it along to your nearest shop that sells aquarium supplies like pets at home so you can be sure to get the correct size and buy a new bulb. Don't buy one not designed for aquariums. It will work obviously but it doesn't enhance the colour of the fish or help plants grow. I made that mistake of just buying one for a few quid from market and it made the tank look rubbish. I always get mine fro all my different sized tanks from Pets and Home.

When a bulb is flickering it's time to change it as it will eventually go. Mine was the same and the tank was a chinese make I had bought on ebay.

I see,a quick look around suggests that they use compact fluorescent lamps
Is it 2pin or 4pin?
I'd probably just get one off Amazon instead of paying over the odds and getting one from an aquatics outlet.
Look for a lamp rated at 5000K or 6500K and they'll be fine for an aquarium.
5000K is daylight and tends to have a slightly yellowish light.
6500K will be leaning a little bit more towards the blue end of the colour spectrum.
I personally prefer 6500K.

I find them priced the same online or in an aquatic shop tbh when I've looked. I tried bulbs that aren't specifically for aquariums and the difference in colour of the fish and tank is dramatic. I would go for a proper aquarium light. Plus he will need to measure the length of his tube if he's buying online to determine what size tube to get T8 etc, It's much quicker and easier just to take the old tube along to a shop and just buy one. Especially the first time replacing one if you don't know for sure your tube size.

Its a weird tube, its a 4 pin thing with 2 tubes jointed together at the base and with a little bit of glass in between at the end. None of the tubes I've looked at in pets at home looked anything like it.

Like the on here in fact:-
http://www.fishpetsreptiles.co.uk/pr...=16&prodid=116