Welcome! I wish I had found this site before I bought my BP because it offers a lot more accurate information then you'll find in a general search. Anyway, when you talk about using aluminum tape down are you saying inside your tub? If thats the case, tape NEVER goes inside your snakes enclosure. You should be ok putting your tub on the wood but someone with more experience willl be able to speak to that a little better than I can. As for ambient temps, heating tape doesn't do much for that. Its really only used to create a hot spot on one side. I'm not nearly as experienced as most of the people on here but everyones usually quick to respond. Sorry I couldn't answer everything but wanted to pass on what I know.