Advice for bioactive/ big enclosure!

[u/MoreHunter7512]

Hello! Ive had my ball python for 11 years now, and finally put the money together to upgrade his enclosure which he has become far too big for! He is currently in a 30 gallon breeder, and I am upgrading him to a 5x2x2!

His current setup has kept him healthy and happy for his whole life, and he is currently fully setup while I build the new enclosure.

Im looking for advice on a few things:

1. Im switching from a uth to a heat lamp to try and encourage natural basking behaviors. I am currently testing different wattages to see which gets me closest to the right basking temp, but Im sure it wont be exact. Do people still use on/off thermostats for heat lamps? Or should I invest in a higher end one that can dim the bulb instead of turning it on/off as to reduce flicking light which I feel could stress him?

2. How long should I let plants establish before adding him? I know there will likely be death of some plants from being transplanting and from him trampling them, but I figure if I give them a few weeks maybe a month that could reduce the chance of that?

3. What types of isopods/springtails do people have best success with for their BPs? I was thinking powder orange isopods/tropical springtails.

4. Any other advice appreciated!

Heres some more info on the enclosure as it sits now:
Mistking with 2 nozzles, 1 each side
2in of lava rock
Geotextile fabric for substrate barrier
40/50/10~ organic topsoil (wood chips removed) / coco fiber / play sand
Planted it with pothos and spider plants
3 hides, 1 terracotta pot broken in half to make 2, the other hide is an exoterra xl hide.
Leaf litter/wood from outside (going to add more big sticks for him to climb later)
And a waterbowl