diff --git a/src/dlstbx/mimas/core.py b/src/dlstbx/mimas/core.py
index dacdafb9b..47e1ebb4b 100644
--- a/src/dlstbx/mimas/core.py
+++ b/src/dlstbx/mimas/core.py
@@ -44,6 +44,19 @@
     mimas.MimasISPyBParameter(key="ice_rings.filter", value="true"),
 )
 
+XIA2_DIALS_VMXM_SPOTFINDING_PARAMS: Tuple[mimas.MimasISPyBParameter, ...] = (
+    mimas.MimasISPyBParameter(key="spotfinder.filter.max_separation", value="8"),
+    mimas.MimasISPyBParameter(
+        key="spotfinder.threshold.dispersion.kernel_size", value="6,6"
+    ),
+    mimas.MimasISPyBParameter(
+        key="spotfinder.threshold.dispersion.sigma_background", value="3"
+    ),
+    mimas.MimasISPyBParameter(
+        key="spotfinder.threshold.dispersion.sigma_strong", value="1"
+    ),
+)
+
 
 def xia2_dials_absorption_params(
     scenario: mimas.MimasScenario,
@@ -298,6 +311,8 @@ def handle_rotation_end(
         xia2_dials_beamline_extra_params = (
             *XIA2_DIALS_COPPER_RINGS_PARAMS,
             mimas.MimasISPyBParameter(key="failover", value="true"),
+            mimas.MimasISPyBParameter(key="remove_blanks", value="true"),
+            *XIA2_DIALS_VMXM_SPOTFINDING_PARAMS,
         )
 
     triggervars_pref: Tuple[mimas.MimasISPyBTriggerVariable, ...] = ()
diff --git a/src/dlstbx/wrapper/xia2.py b/src/dlstbx/wrapper/xia2.py
index 6f8bbfe35..2d7158a52 100644
--- a/src/dlstbx/wrapper/xia2.py
+++ b/src/dlstbx/wrapper/xia2.py
@@ -56,7 +56,11 @@ def construct_commandline(
                 "unit_cell": "xia2.settings.unit_cell",
             }
             for param, value in params["ispyb_parameters"].items():
-                command.append(translation.get(param, param) + "=" + value)
+                if param.startswith("spotfinder"):
+                    if "find_spots.phil_file=spots.phil" not in command:
+                        command.append("find_spots.phil_file=spots.phil")
+                else:
+                    command.append(translation.get(param, param) + "=" + value)
 
         return command
 
@@ -195,11 +199,22 @@ def run_xia2(self, working_directory: Path, params: dict):
                     f"Could not create run_xia2.sh script file in the working directory {working_directory}"
                 )
                 return False
-            command = ["sh", f"{working_directory}/run_xia2.sh"]
+            run_command = ["sh", f"{working_directory}/run_xia2.sh"]
+        else:
+            run_command = command
 
         subprocess_directory = working_directory / params["program_name"]
         subprocess_directory.mkdir(parents=True, exist_ok=True)
 
+        # Write out spot finding parameters that are not directly accessible in xia2 to phil file
+
+        if "find_spots.phil_file=spots.phil" in command:
+            with open(subprocess_directory / "spots.phil", "w") as phil:
+                for param, value in params["ispyb_parameters"].items():
+                    if "spotfinder" in param:
+                        phil.write(f"{param}={value}\n")
+            self.log.info(f"Created spots.phil in {subprocess_directory}")
+
         if "dials.integrate.phil_file" in params["xia2"]:
             dials_integrate_phil_file = subprocess_directory / params["xia2"].get(
                 "dials.integrate.phil_file"
@@ -219,7 +234,7 @@ def run_xia2(self, working_directory: Path, params: dict):
         try:
             start_time = time.perf_counter()
             result = subprocess.run(
-                command,
+                run_command,
                 timeout=params.get("timeout"),
                 cwd=subprocess_directory,
             )