Don't buy the thermostat at the pet store. Really. Last time I was there they were selling JumpStarts for $55 +. And they had those junky Zoo-med things with the dial for over $45. Buy on Amazon. Right now they are $33 with free shipping. Even eBay has more reasonable deals than Petco.
As for that screen, you should cover most of it. I've never used a tank, but I've heard people use everything from aluminum foil to damp towels to insulation board.
Slow down and think things through carefully. It's very easy to blow all kinds of money needlessly on things that aren't going to make a wit of difference, especially at pet stores. As long as the poor creature isn't visibly sick, then anything you do, no matter how small, is gong to be an improvement.
Not to say that improvements don't need to be made! Just sit down, do some research, have a drink, and think it through carefully.
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