I have 4 of these but no proper ballast. Is there anything else I could use to try them out? I have lots of fluorescent ballasts.

What side of pond are you on?

Well  here u can use MH 70 watt ballast with ignitor deacivated.  Find a ballast on ebay?  Also
In 240 volt realm u can use 8 foot 100 watt fluorescent
Choke. Or Meduim ballast factor HO rapid start
With out the heater  wires hooked up.

I'm in Alberta, Canada. I could hook up an HO ballast for t12? I only have the 2 lamp kind for 8 footers.

Yes just use one of red and blue leads