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You could just buy a 20 foot coil of the metal tubing and keep winding the metal around the ballast until you have a nice coil with no gaps. That way you wouldn't have to flatten the tubing.
Also, I would be careful using copper tubing since copper is toxic to aquatic organisms, particularly shrimp, snails, invertebrates and some plants.
If you could find bronze tubing that would be better. Otherwise just use a thicker silicone tubing (sold at home depot in 20 feet roles). The heat transfer won't be as good, but it will be good enough especially if you make a nice thick coil around the ballast (overlapping several times) the heat should all be captured. Then just run water through it.
Also, I would be careful using copper tubing since copper is toxic to aquatic organisms, particularly shrimp, snails, invertebrates and some plants.
If you could find bronze tubing that would be better. Otherwise just use a thicker silicone tubing (sold at home depot in 20 feet roles). The heat transfer won't be as good, but it will be good enough especially if you make a nice thick coil around the ballast (overlapping several times) the heat should all be captured. Then just run water through it.