When we set up our 8 tub rack I just basically put in the substrate (newspaper) and full water bowls but no snakes. Then I checked with the probe the top bin, the middle bin and the bottom bin to see how it heat held throughout the rack overall. Once I got a bead on that (very little if any variance) I just now keep the probe to the Acu-Rite tucked into the mid point tub.

We don't offer hides because the rack we use is solid black. Basically the rack works as a large hide for the snakes, though they can come to the front (cool end) and look out the nice clear Iris tubs this rack comes with.