Reddit reviews Alvin, Swing-Arm Lamp, Spring-balanced for Drafting Lamp Combination, 100 WATT - Black

I bought it from bauhaus which I think doesn't have an online store, but you could probably use any cheap-o architects lamp, i.e. something like this.

+1 for SC2 (-0.5 for watching rather than playing) ;)

+1 for this lamp (I have the same one)

+1 for the Les Paul

+1 for the keyboard (I have the same one)

These were 25 dollars when I bought it. It's modded (duh) and gets in the way a sometimes. But in general it gives me the freedom I need.

This is a pretty good primer. It seems daunting, but it's actually pretty simple once you dive in. You can do this on any scale, from a half-gallon nano tank to as big as you can imagine. If you choose to try live plants, the cheapest lighting there is consists of a clamp light or clip-on desk lamp with a 23 watt 6500k compact fluorescent bulb in it.

You could hit up your local thrift stores for a couple of swing-arm desk lamps. You can find them new for $15-$20, so the thrift store could easily be in the $5-$10 range.

It shouldn't be too difficult to remove the lamp and cord and re-purpose the armature.

Plus, assuming you can find them with the mounts, it will give you another axis of movement. (Of course, you could make your own mount pretty easily, too.)

you can get some cheep one at ikea i know. or from amazon

Seconding scytheis' comments. I have the AT2020 XLR version and run it through a usb interface with preamps. (would be a good option if you didn't already have a good DAC). It sounds a ton better than the Blue Yeti that I have at the office. You can easily tell which recordings I do where. The Yeti's not bad or unbearable, it's just not as good (despite glowing reviews). Glad to know the USB version of the 2020 is good too though; I might have to switch.

I got mine second hand from a younger cousin who beat it to death recording in college. It's truly nuke-proof. But it will pick up any ambient noise near it. Mechanical keyboard would be super loud but you could mitigate it. You can rig up a boom desk stand similar to this Rode using a cheapo scissor desklamp. There are some forum reviews as to which cheap ones have heftier springs for balancing but I couldn't find it right away. Generally can do it for 1/4 of the price of the real boom.

Be sure you get a daylight bulb that is in 6500k or 6700k. I use a 23 watt but I have it on a desk clamp light with a very long adjustable arm so I can pull it higher or lower depending on how much light I needed. Mine is pulled up quite a bit, about a foot from the substrate. Might try a 16 watt? ( http://www.amazon.com/Alvin-G2540-B-Swing-Lamp-Black/dp/B001DNFLYS/ref=sr_1_14?ie=UTF8&qid=1368668919&sr=8-14&keywords=clamp+light )

I have medium plants in my tank. Pearl weed, hydrocotyle Japan, Rotala Indica, luwigia, Alternanthera reineckii, and some moss. They're all doing well actually with flourish once a week. I'd like to put in a root tab but I'm afraid for my shrimp.

The new growth doesn't look like it's stretching for light but if you think you need additional light, a lamp like this with a 100W equivalent fluorescent and a timer is a cheap additional light source.

I like to use liquid fertilizer like this on houseplants because it's easy to measure in a small watering can. Generally a few drops now and then really perks things up.

Duct tape one of these to each arm:
http://www.amazon.com/Alvin-G2540-B-Swing-Lamp-Black/dp/B001DNFLYS/ref=sr_1_3?ie=UTF8&qid=1411100559&sr=8-3&keywords=desk+lamp+swivel

Boom.