Heating questions for my tub

[Papa Burgundy]

When I acquired my second female BP last week, a UTH came in the trade. I am looking to build a rack this summer and figured this would be a good time to try my hand at my first tub. I have my 3 1/2 ft female in a 90qt tub (perfect length but just twice as high as need be), but have run into heating problems.
The UTH was (at first) attached directly to the bottom of the tub, but the hot side was been running to hot according to my Accurite thermometer. Due to a re-opened cut on her neck (thanks to the guy that feed this slender snake large rats), my substrate is newspaper and is very thin. If she was cut free and infection was not a worry, I would have aspen bedding in there and the problem would not be as difficult to manage.
So to attempt to fix the problem, I changed the thickness of paper, amount of paper, and kind of paper, all to no avail.
Finally, I put the UTH on the ground and created a space about an inch and a half between the UTH and the tub using golf balls as a spacer.
That has made a bigger difference than any of the previous changes, but it is still a tad to warm. It is usually right at 93, but I just peeked in there and it was at 94.5.
Anyone have any ideas or suggestions?
I have come to the realization that most UTH's are meant for glass tanks, not plastic tubs.

[SatanicIntention]

94.5 is fine, I keep mine between 94-95 on the warm side and they do fine, just so they have a cooler area to get to(80-85). Do you have a thermostat(a quality one, not some pet store junk) to keep the UTH from overheating? Putting too much bedding can insulate the heat even further and can actually cause overheating and failure. I use maybe 2-3 sheets of newspaper since the bedding is only there to soak up waste.

Definitely invest in a thermostat though. You don't want your new girl to end up with a burn as well as the cut.

[Papa Burgundy]

A thermostat is on the list for summer. I cannot afford one now, everything I have seen for a quality one runs on the $100 category. So once I work my butt off in summer to pay for this hobby, an awesome one will be invested in.
As for now, she doesn't apparently doesn't like the 94 because she is laying in the cool side now.
This UTH would be perfect for a glass tank.

[SatanicIntention]

Home Depot has the awesome dimmers by the name of Lutron Credenza. They are a plug-n-play slider dimmer. Just plug the UTH into the dimmer, plug the dimmer into the wall and slide the dimmer until you get the temperatures you want. It will have to be finagled with a bit, but it's at least something.

They cost around $12 and are generally white or clear plastic. They do not need wiring and can be found in the fans and lighting department.

[Papa Burgundy]

Really? SWEET!
This would of course be a substitute until I can afford a herpstat or helix when I build my rack, but awesome! I am excited. I'll pick one up asap