105W CF vs 70W MH

I have a JBJ 28G nano cube. The lighting hood it came with is a 105W CF quad 10,000k/7,100K combo bulb. I also have a JBJ Viper clamp 70W HQI MH designed to run specifically on the nano cube open tops. What I want to know, is which light would be better for growing corals? 105W of compact flourescents or 70W of MH. One thing i do know is the MH is BLINDINGLY bright and the CF is a cool blue combo (did that just answer my question). Keep in mind the CF will be about 3 inches above the water, and the MH will be 8 inches above the water. And the water is only 13 inches deep to the substrate. Does anyone happen to know the lumens per watt for CF bulbs or MH bulbs? (I know if varies by brand and kelvin). I dont trust the WPG rule as far as I can throw my tank, so lumens per watts is what i have been trying to find. I could not find any data on the specific jbj bulb I have so if you guys have any suggestions im all ears.

*I dont know what kind of corals i plan on growing yet, most likely just softies, but I still want to use the better of the two lights so I can grow corals faster and healthier.

*My LFS has the 28G nano cube with CF quad bulbs set up for about a year. I have seen frags of Acans, frogspawn, zoas, and leathers take off and do great under the stock PC lighting.

 

OOO OOOO I KNOW! Ill try both for a few weeks and be a test dummy for everyone here at 3reef! After all, how do people learn in this hobby? By experimenting. I would rather not, but I might just do this unless someone knows for sure which will be better.

 

I would go open top w/halide!!! You will get BEAUTIFUL shimmer effect from the Halides that you just dont get as well with T5's.
Also - with an open top you will promote much higher gas exchange (co2 out, O2 in).

I would be curious, however, to see the scientific argument on this one in terms of PAR output. Not sure who would win there . . . .

 

yeah i had nice shimmer when i used the MH on this tank when it was planted. The CF gives a more even lighting but the MH was brighter in a more focused area.

 

MH is superior to both T5 and CF. CF isn't that great.

 

I understand MH is far superior to CF when compared watt to watt i.e. 100w MH blows 100W of CF out of the water, but will the added wattage of CF be better than a low watt MH?

 

NO! lol 70 watts of MH is more light then 200 watts of CF! MH alllllll day baby!!! lol

 

Really? Dang. Thanks OP

 

Yes its head and shoulders above CF......

 

lol.