With our new ball python coming home in the next week or so, I'm planning on building a stand for the tank that will display the snake attractively, provide for the necessary equipment and hardware, and function as an attractive piece of furniture for our living room,

With that in mind, I was wondering if any of you wonderful people could give me some help with some stuff. For example:

What kind of airspace should I leave under the tank? I'm not sure if I'll use under-tank heating pads, but if I do, how much airspace should I leave?

Should the tank be enclosed on three sides, or would it be okay to leave the sides as well as the front exposed?

If the top of the tank will be completely enclosed (to mask lights and CHE), do you think I would still need to use some sort of additional cover over the screen to keep heat from escaping?

Any suggestions for how high off the ground the tank should sit for convenience?

Thanks in advance!

Chris