New Tub Set-Up

[purpleroan]

I am creating my first ball python enclosure this week, and have been searching this forum up and down for opinions and advice on keeping balls in tubs. I am picking up the snake Sunday, but here's my dilemma; the seller is also selling me a thermostat since they had an extra and they have always found the brand to work wonderfully. I will have the tub, thermometers, hides, uth, etc by Saturday, but I have a few questions about how to make this transition as seamless as possible for her since it will not have been completely set up and running with the thermostat..also, just a few general husbandry questions. Thanks for any info you can provide!!

-How many holes/how big/how far apart should I melt in the tub for adequate air flow?
-should I avoid testing the heat pad before I have the thermostat, in the event it could melt the plastic?
-How can I ensure that the ambient temperature is appropriate with a plastic tub, since I can't use a heat lamp? Increasing the temp of the entire room is not an option.
-I am planning on using newspaper for a substrate due to ease of cleaning. How often should it be changed, and if I must mist the tub to maintain humidity is this a poor choice of substrate?
-how far above the surface of whatever the tub is sitting on should the heat pad be? I don't want it to ruin the desk I am planning on keeping her on. Also, any suggestions as far as feet go for attaching to the tub to lift it up? I heard bottle caps somewhere but that doesn't seem like much space

Ok, I guess most of those didn't have much to do with the late arrival of the thermostat. Still, I'm big on planning everything ahead so that part is giving me a bit of anxiety. Any advice is greatly appreciated! Thanks!