diff --git a/Exec/science/nova/GNUmakefile b/Exec/science/nova/GNUmakefile
index 8005099909..0f4d4109d3 100644
--- a/Exec/science/nova/GNUmakefile
+++ b/Exec/science/nova/GNUmakefile
@@ -13,9 +13,10 @@ USE_REACT        = TRUE
 USE_DIFFUSION    = TRUE
 USE_GRAV         = TRUE
 
-CASTRO_HOME ?= ../../..
+CASTRO_HOME := ../../..
 
 USE_MODEL_PARSER = TRUE
+MAX_NPTS_MODEL = 20000
 
 # This sets the EOS directory in $(MICROPHYSICS_HOME)/eos
 EOS_DIR     := helmholtz
@@ -26,9 +27,7 @@ NETWORK_DIR := nova2
 # Thi sets the conductivity EOS directory in $(MICROPHYSICS_HOME)/conductivity
 CONDUCTIVITY_DIR := stellar
 
-PROBLEM_DIR ?= ./
-
-Bpack   := $(PROBLEM_DIR)/Make.package
-Blocs   := $(PROBLEM_DIR)
+Bpack   := ./Make.package
+Blocs   := .
 
 include $(CASTRO_HOME)/Exec/Make.Castro
diff --git a/Exec/science/nova/inputs_nova_t7 b/Exec/science/nova/inputs_nova_t7
index 37df192afe..74ef46c916 100644
--- a/Exec/science/nova/inputs_nova_t7
+++ b/Exec/science/nova/inputs_nova_t7
@@ -1,11 +1,12 @@
-max_step = 1200000
+# ------------------  INPUTS TO MAIN PROGRAM  -------------------
+max_step = 2000000
 
 # PROBLEM SIZE & GEOMETRY
 geometry.is_periodic = 1          0
 geometry.coord_sys   = 0                  # 0 => cart, 1 => RZ  2=>spherical
 geometry.prob_lo     = 0          0
 geometry.prob_hi     = 20.480e7   10.240e7
-amr.n_cell           = 640        320
+amr.n_cell           = 1280       640
 
 # >>>>>>>>>>>>>  BC FLAGS <<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<
 # 0 = Interior           3 = Symmetry
@@ -68,22 +69,22 @@ amr.v                 = 1       # verbosity in Amr.cpp
 
 
 # REFINEMENT / REGRIDDING
-amr.max_level       = 3            # maximum level number allowed
-amr.ref_ratio       = 2 2 2 2 2    # refinement ratio
-amr.regrid_int      = 2 2 2 2 2    # how often to regrid
+amr.max_level       = 2            # maximum level number allowed
+amr.ref_ratio       = 4 2          # refinement ratio
+amr.regrid_int      = 2 2          # how often to regrid
 amr.max_grid_size   = 256
 amr.blocking_factor = 64
-amr.n_error_buf     = 2 2 2 2 2    # number of buffer cells in error est
+amr.n_error_buf     = 2 2         # number of buffer cells in error est
 amr.refine_grid_layout = 0
 
 
 # CHECKPOINT FILES
 amr.check_file      = chk        # root name of checkpoint file
-amr.check_int       = 200        # number of timesteps between checkpoints
+amr.check_int       = 150       # number of timesteps between checkpoints
 
 # PLOTFILES
 amr.plot_file        = plt        # root name of plotfile
-amr.plot_int         = 5000        # number of timesteps between plotfiles
+amr.plot_int         = 5000       # number of timesteps between plotfiles
 amr.derive_plot_vars = ALL
 
 # DATA LOG
@@ -112,14 +113,14 @@ integrator.abort_on_failure = 0
 
 amr.refinement_indicators = dens temp edot
 
-amr.refine.dens.max_level = 5
+amr.refine.dens.max_level = 2
 amr.refine.dens.value_greater = 1.0e2
 amr.refine.dens.field_name = density
 
-amr.refine.temp.max_level = 5
+amr.refine.temp.max_level = 2
 amr.refine.temp.value_greater = 1.0e7
 amr.refine.temp.field_name = Temp
 
-amr.refine.edot.max_level = 5
+amr.refine.edot.max_level = 2
 amr.refine.edot.value_greater = 1.0e11
 amr.refine.edot.field_name = enuc