diff --git a/Exec/science/xrb_layered/_prob_params b/Exec/science/xrb_layered/_prob_params
index c7d4c5f6a2..116b508555 100644
--- a/Exec/science/xrb_layered/_prob_params
+++ b/Exec/science/xrb_layered/_prob_params
@@ -7,3 +7,5 @@ model_name            character      ""            y
 apply_perturbation    integer        1             y
 
 pert_density          real           1.0           y
+
+model_shift           real           0.0           y
diff --git a/Exec/science/xrb_layered/inputs_2d b/Exec/science/xrb_layered/inputs_2d
index 97e7ae582b..2fe04eae09 100644
--- a/Exec/science/xrb_layered/inputs_2d
+++ b/Exec/science/xrb_layered/inputs_2d
@@ -7,7 +7,7 @@ geometry.is_periodic = 1       0
 geometry.coord_sys   = 0                  # 0 => cart, 1 => RZ  2=>spherical
 geometry.prob_lo     = 0.0     0.0
 geometry.prob_hi     = 3072    3072
-amr.n_cell           = 256     256
+amr.n_cell           = 128     128
 
 # >>>>>>>>>>>>>  BC FLAGS <<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<
 # 0 = Interior           3 = Symmetry
@@ -43,14 +43,14 @@ castro.react_T_min = 5.e6
 
 
 # TIME STEP CONTROL
-castro.cfl            = 0.7     # cfl number for hyperbolic system
+castro.cfl            = 0.8     # cfl number for hyperbolic system
 castro.init_shrink    = 0.1     # scale back initial timestep
 castro.change_max     = 1.1     # max time step growth
 
 # SPONGE
 castro.sponge_upper_density = 1.e3
 castro.sponge_lower_density = 1.e2
-castro.sponge_timescale     = 1.0e-4
+castro.sponge_timescale     = 1.0e-7
 
 # DIAGNOSTICS & VERBOSITY
 castro.sum_interval   = 1       # timesteps between computing mass
@@ -59,10 +59,10 @@ amr.v                 = 1       # verbosity in Amr.cpp
 
 # REFINEMENT / REGRIDDING 
 amr.max_level       = 1       # maximum level number allowed
-amr.ref_ratio       = 2 2 2 2 # refinement ratio
+amr.ref_ratio       = 4 2 2 2 # refinement ratio
 amr.regrid_int      = 2 2 2 2 # how often to regrid
 amr.blocking_factor = 8       # block factor in grid generation
-amr.max_grid_size   = 64 
+amr.max_grid_size   = 256
 amr.n_error_buf     = 2 2 2 2 # number of buffer cells in error est
 
 # CHECKPOINT FILES
@@ -79,6 +79,8 @@ problem.model_name =  "toy_atm_hot_castro_3cm.hse"
 
 problem.apply_perturbation = 1
 
+problem.model_shift = 300.0
+
 # MICROPHYSICS
 integrator.jacobian = 1
 
diff --git a/Exec/science/xrb_layered/problem_initialize_state_data.H b/Exec/science/xrb_layered/problem_initialize_state_data.H
index 5f122a72ee..8cc253f6b7 100644
--- a/Exec/science/xrb_layered/problem_initialize_state_data.H
+++ b/Exec/science/xrb_layered/problem_initialize_state_data.H
@@ -32,6 +32,8 @@ void problem_initialize_state_data (int i, int j, int k,
     Real height = z;
 #endif
 
+    height += problem::model_shift;
+
     state(i,j,k,URHO) = interpolate(height, model::idens);
     state(i,j,k,UTEMP) = interpolate(height, model::itemp);