Yes raising the basking decor would be good- you need to either lower the uvb or raise the basking decor for the T 8 12-15 is too high for the T 8Thats the tallest I could get its 15 inches I could loosen and the string to lower it a bit like the 2nd pic I posted. I am thinking of getting a solid slab of rock to rise the basking spot or maybe this will work.