After extensively reading The Serpent Merchant's HOW TO SET UP A PVC CAGE (AP T8) WITH PICTURES, I've come with some items I can use help on.

Here's what I'd like to do. Planning on getting a T8 (though possibly a T10). Hard to beat the $150 price tag on the T8.

I'd like to get the divider and house two snakes to start... a ball python in one, and possibly a Mexican Black Kingsnake in the other. As they get bigger, I will use the whole 48" for one of the snakes, and get another T8 or T10 to stack for the other snake. So, the questions:

1. HEAT: This is the one that confuses me the most, so I'll make this question the first one. If I get the RHP, I would get one for each side, correct? Would it be centered on each side? And, if this is the only heat source I'm using, and its centered, how does this produce the gradient shift required on each half of the T8? The room where the T8 would be ranges in temps between 68-73 for the most part. Humidity, I have no idea.

2. HEAT AFTER REMOVING THE DIVIDER: When I decide to remove the divider, am I still using two RHP's?

3. HERPSTAT 2: The Herpstat 2... that unit has TWO thermostats and can control TWO powered items, correct? So, I would assume, one each on the RHP?

4. SEALING/SILICONE: 100% Silicone from Home Depot... is this safe to use for sealing the joints, to make the enclosure waterproof?

5. RECESSED DAM FOR SUBSTRATE: Is there a recessed lip/dam on the bottom, to prevent the substrate from falling out when I slide open the doors?

6. SUBSTRATE: I plan on using either Reptichip or Cypress Mulch. I like them both. Is Cypress Mulch the cheaper of the two? I think I like the Reptichip better, but I think I read the Cypress would cost less overall.

7. CUSTOM BACKGROUND: Coming from the fish/aquarium hobby, Universal Rocks makes some awesome 3D background for fishtanks. But, they also make reptile tank versions. You can see them here: Crevice Background by Universal Rocks. I like the "display" aspect of any system I set up. Is there any reason such a background might not be good for the T8?

8. BIOACTIVE SETUP: I ask this one last because its not really for THIS T8, but maybe one in the future. Very simply, can a T8 work for a bioactive setup?