Best way to heat a plastic tub terrarium?

I am looking to adopt a ball python. I've had one before but in a glass tank. I've read a lot about how plastic tubs make better housing but I'm left to wonder, what exactly is the best way to heat them. I want to use an under tank heater and read somewhere that I can use a ceramic tile to dissipate the heat to keep from burning the snake or melting the tank. What are your thoughts on the best way to go about this and how do breeders usually heat their racks?

The tubs usually just go straight on the UTH or heat tape. They can take the temps just fine, provided the heating element is controlled by a Tstat. From what I've gathered, most people only use the tile method when heating a custom wood enclosure that can't transfer the heat through the material.

If the heat tape is controlled by a thermostat then you won't get any burns to the snake or melting of plastic