More than likely the starter, kind of looks like a "perfecto" T8 light. Those starters are cheap, and can be found at PetSmart. It has like a small white cylindrical part right?

Ken - BWA

Hmmm, I'll take a closer look at the starter and then decide if I think it's that or the ballast.

Ive gotten pretty busy, my fish have just had a lamp on top of the tank for the time being. Though my SW tank radiates quite a bit of light as its only a few feet away so it can't be that bad.

For less than $40 you can pick up a whole new fixture at home depot and either try retro fitting the components into your fixture or make a cheap canopy and use as is.