diff --git a/Exec/science/xrb_layered/inputs_2d b/Exec/science/xrb_layered/inputs_2d
index b162535507..2992aacaf8 100644
--- a/Exec/science/xrb_layered/inputs_2d
+++ b/Exec/science/xrb_layered/inputs_2d
@@ -79,6 +79,9 @@ problem.model_name =  "toy_atm_hot_3cm.hse"
 
 problem.apply_perturbation = 1
 
+problem.H_min = 1.e-5
+problem.He_min = 1.e-5
+
 problem.model_shift = 750.0
 
 # MICROPHYSICS
diff --git a/Exec/science/xrb_layered/inputs_2d.nonsquare b/Exec/science/xrb_layered/inputs_2d.nonsquare
index c696f1d526..2782d5aa7f 100644
--- a/Exec/science/xrb_layered/inputs_2d.nonsquare
+++ b/Exec/science/xrb_layered/inputs_2d.nonsquare
@@ -62,7 +62,7 @@ amr.v                 = 1       # verbosity in Amr.cpp
 
 # REFINEMENT / REGRIDDING 
 amr.max_level       = 1       # maximum level number allowed
-amr.ref_ratio       = 4 2 2 2 # refinement ratio
+amr.ref_ratio       = 2 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   = 256
@@ -74,7 +74,7 @@ amr.check_int       = 1000       # number of timesteps between checkpoints
 
 # PLOTFILES
 amr.plot_file       = xrb_plt    # root name of plotfile
-amr.plot_int        = 1000       # number of timesteps between plotfiles
+amr.plot_per        = 0.001
 amr.derive_plot_vars = ALL
 
 # PROBLEM PARAMETERS
@@ -84,11 +84,13 @@ problem.apply_perturbation = 1
 
 problem.model_shift = 750.0
 
-problem.H_min = 1.e-5
-problem.He_min = 1.e-5
+problem.H_min = -1
+problem.He_min = -1
 
 # MICROPHYSICS
 integrator.jacobian = 1
 
 integrator.atol_spec = 1.e-6
 integrator.rtol_spec = 1.e-6
+
+integrator.X_reject_buffer = 4.0
diff --git a/Exec/science/xrb_layered/inputs_3d.nonsquare b/Exec/science/xrb_layered/inputs_3d.nonsquare
index dd22b03c66..a0289b408e 100644
--- a/Exec/science/xrb_layered/inputs_3d.nonsquare
+++ b/Exec/science/xrb_layered/inputs_3d.nonsquare
@@ -74,7 +74,7 @@ amr.check_int       = 1000       # number of timesteps between checkpoints
 
 # PLOTFILES
 amr.plot_file       = xrb_plt    # root name of plotfile
-amr.plot_per        = 0.001       # number of timesteps between plotfiles
+amr.plot_per        = 0.001      
 amr.derive_plot_vars = ALL
 
 amr.small_plot_file       = xrb_smallplt    # root name of plotfile
@@ -100,6 +100,4 @@ integrator.jacobian = 1
 integrator.atol_spec = 1.e-6
 integrator.rtol_spec = 1.e-6
 
-integrator.linalg_do_pivoting = 0
-
 integrator.X_reject_buffer = 4.0
diff --git a/Exec/science/xrb_layered/problem_initialize_state_data.H b/Exec/science/xrb_layered/problem_initialize_state_data.H
index 3eb8db2ecd..0f7366f52d 100644
--- a/Exec/science/xrb_layered/problem_initialize_state_data.H
+++ b/Exec/science/xrb_layered/problem_initialize_state_data.H
@@ -36,7 +36,11 @@ void problem_initialize_state_data (int i, int j, int k,
     height += problem::model_shift;
 
     state(i,j,k,URHO) = interpolate(height, model::idens);
-    state(i,j,k,UTEMP) = interpolate(height, model::itemp);
+    state(i,j,k,UTEMP) = interpolate(height, model::itemp);  // this will be an initial guess
+    Real p_zone = interpolate(height, model::ipres);
+
+    // interpolate species as mass fractions and make sure they sum to
+    // 1.  Later we will convert to densities.
 
     Real sumX{0.0};
     for (int n = 0; n < NumSpec; ++n) {
@@ -44,7 +48,6 @@ void problem_initialize_state_data (int i, int j, int k,
         sumX += state(i,j,k,UFS+n);
     }
 
-    // make sure the species sum to 1
     for (int n = 0; n < NumSpec; ++n) {
         state(i,j,k,UFS+n) /= sumX;
     }
@@ -52,12 +55,15 @@ void problem_initialize_state_data (int i, int j, int k,
     eos_t eos_state;
     eos_state.rho = state(i,j,k,URHO);
     eos_state.T = state(i,j,k,UTEMP);
+    eos_state.p = p_zone;
+
     for (int n = 0; n < NumSpec; n++) {
         eos_state.xn[n] = state(i,j,k,UFS+n);
     }
 
-    eos(eos_input_rt, eos_state);
+    eos(eos_input_rp, eos_state);
 
+    state(i,j,k,UTEMP) = eos_state.T;
     state(i,j,k,UEINT) = state(i,j,k,URHO) * eos_state.e;
     state(i,j,k,UEDEN) = state(i,j,k,UEINT);