New ball python owner, DIY tank in the future

[PhaneSoul]

So after looking through some threads i have sortve an idea on how this is gonna go. But i do have some questions.

How i understand to setup the substrate.
Pond liner
Pvc pipe in corner for watering, in my setup it will extend to the top and out of the top for easy watering, sealed accordingly
1/2in layer med sized fishtank gravel
A layer of peat goes on top of this, how thick would this layer be?
Next up is a mixture of 100% organic top soil mixed with play sand (washed of course) 80/20 mix respectively.
A sparse layer of cypress mulch and leaf litter

Bugs

Isopods
Springtails
Nightcrawlers
Any other useful bugs? Id like to stay away from mites altogether.

Heating
As stated before, i planned on having 2 ceramic heaters in tge setup, they would be hanging from the top with a cage around them to prevent the snake from getting any goofy ideas. From my understanding these will set the enclosure temperature at 80 via temp controller.

Hot hide temp, how do i heat the hot hide with a bioactive substrate???

For a wet hide i was thinking of making a burrow in the substrate, it would be moist since its in the substrate

A few decorative climbing sticks
A cliff of sorts on one wall, something that will stay dry
And lastly assorted hardy strong plants

And still the same plan with lighting, leds will be used which wont contribute much heat and setup for plant growth controlled via my aquarium controller. Red and blue lighting will be dominant with a shorter white light cycle.

How does this new and improved plan sound? The only things im not sure about are the hot hide heating, good bugs and the peat layer.

Maintenance would consist of weekly watering via watering tube and fluffing of the substrate, pruning of plants when need be and bulk waste removal.

[Mada]

sorry for your loss sir.

[Snake Judy]

Judy do you have a build thread of sorts? If not would you mind giving me a bit of detail on your substrate as far as what and how much you used, layered or mixed and any organisms you seeded it with? I know you mentioned a bit of this earlier but not in too much detail.. Thanks

Sure, here's a build album I put together a while back: http://imgur.com/a/vguGZ

[AllThatInThemGenes]

^ that is sooooooooo cool.

[PhaneSoul]

Thank you mada. And judy you give me some inspiration to build my own cliffs lol, those came out wonderfully!

For the warm hide would it be alright just to have a heater sealed in a hide with temp controller? Im still lost as how to heat the warm hide, under tank heaters dont seem like they would work cuz of the thick substrate and water barrier, i didnt understand your heating method for that very well judy

[Snake Judy]

For the warm hide would it be alright just to have a heater sealed in a hide with temp controller? Im still lost as how to heat the warm hide, under tank heaters dont seem like they would work cuz of the thick substrate and water barrier, i didnt understand your heating method for that very well judy

You're right, under tank heaters won't really work. I'm only using overhead heat - the radiant heat panel. I have a hide below it, which usually stays in the mid to high 80s, and a couple of hides away from it which stay cooler (75-80F generally). Some flat pieces of stone beneath the panel near the entrance of her warm hide heat up to about 90F, so she has a slightly warmer basking spot if she needs it. It seems to work just fine for her.

[PhaneSoul]

Hmm great thanks. I think i have an aidea on how im going to set up the warm hide now. It will either be a clay type hide i make with a heater sealed in the bottom or the method you used. I kindve like your method better, it would probably let me use only 1 ceramic heater instead of 2 as well.