You all have probably been through this a thousand times already, so sorry to drag you through it again.

I am building an enclosure close to a CB-70. (3) 33 Liter tubs. I plan on making it so I can recess it into the small area under the stairs going up stairs that is pretty much useless.

1. I am using flex watt strips for heating. How thick is this stuff and can I just make it one continious "S" through the whole system? (Basically starting underneath the bottom tub in the rear going to the opposite side, straight up through a slit in the panel above, then under the tub in that part, straight up the side again through a slit in the next levels floor, then under the last tub and maybe up the side to make sure each tub is equally exposed to the flexwatt strip.) Or do I need to cut it and wire each section under each tub? I also read that since this stuff will be solidly down on a wood platform that I will have to put little feet on the tubs to create an air gap. How wide does this air gap need to be?

2. I am planning on using Plywood and was wondering what I could paint it in to protect itself and the snakes?

3. I got a Herpstat pro for a thermostat. It has 4 channels, but I plan to use one for this, one for an incubator, and two for a juvenile and new born rack. I was thinking of placing the probe on the center of the flexwatt strip that goes under the middle tub. Then installing a little battery powered thermometer w/probe on the face of each tub with its probe run around the back, into a hole in the tub and fastened down at a point that centers it over the flex watt strip that is below the tub. Does this sound right?

Thank you in advance!