Lighting "malfunction"

[Chinaman]

I need some advice.

My 90G discus tank lighting is on an automatic timer.
The last two evenings when I went downstairs to start the
daily tank maintenance, I found that the light was not on.

I did do some "diagnostic" analysis and have found out that the
root cause is the starter.  The timer is good, the bulb works
and, yes the power is on.  After I lightly "push and pull" the
starter a few times, the light would come back on.  And then,
it wouldn't come back on when the timer kicks in.

Should I change the starter? Has anyone encountered this
problem.

Please do keep in mind though that I don't regard myself as
too handy this this respect.  Any suggestions will be much appreciated.

Sam

[Kemokid]

Yes the starter is the best place to start (pardon the pun) and they are the cheapest component. They do get weak with age and start having trouble firing the tubes. Go pick one up with the same size numerically as the one you have and see if it does the trick. Should be a couple of bucks if what you are calling the starter is a little tin can like thing about the size of a half roll of pennies.

Kemokid

[Chinaman]

Thanks, Kimokid.