Try using this
XSCREEN mode,number of sprites on top screen,number of bg layers on top screen
And only use the BG layers on the bottom screen.
For example, if you use
XSCREEN 2,256,2
Then you can only use BG layers 1 and 2 on the bottom screen, since layers 0 and 1 are for the top screen.
Merry Christmas Komodo! Wishing you and your family the best health!
P.S: Christmas might be on a different day to you since I live in the UK and Christmas is today!