diff --git a/.env.production b/.env.production
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..fdaeee0
--- /dev/null
+++ b/.env.production
@@ -0,0 +1,15 @@
+# Database credentials (must match existing PostgreSQL volume)
+DB_USER=bbdf554
+DB_PASSWORD=Idk@2026lolhappyha232
+DB_DATABASE=directus
+
+# Admin credentials  
+ADMIN_EMAIL=somescreenname@gmail.com
+ADMIN_PASSWORD=Idk@2026lolhappyha232
+
+# Directus keys
+KEY=9i2t1bMAIITWCZ+WrzUEk4EuNmIu3kfyB9Peysk7f/jnUZ7hzQ5HoNC8yOT5vi/rwTmDWX3a1+4j2llgAE2VvA==
+SECRET=Mr4YSrOAfwToxCDFOPwUa8qtxd7BXOvmqXalk3ReikpfcIwf08Kp+hlNjGcr1NtcLIcIZoraaULnMefD5IukGA==
+
+# Optional
+DIRECTUS_ADMIN_TOKEN=
diff --git a/TROUBLESHOOTING.md b/TROUBLESHOOTING.md
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..3295c80
--- /dev/null
+++ b/TROUBLESHOOTING.md
@@ -0,0 +1,35 @@
+# Database Credentials Issue - Troubleshooting
+
+## Problem
+Directus is trying to connect with user `sparkuser` but the database has user `bbdf554`.
+
+## Root Cause
+Coolify might have environment variables that override the docker-compose.yaml values.
+
+## Solution Options
+
+### Option 1: Check Coolify Environment Variables
+In Coolify UI → Application → Environment Variables:
+- Look for `DB_USER` variable
+- If it says `sparkuser`, delete it or change to `bbdf554`
+
+### Option 2: Add .env file to override
+Create a `.env` file in the repo with:
+```
+DB_USER=bbdf554
+DB_PASSWORD=Idk@2026lolhappyha232
+```
+
+### Option 3: Hardcode in docker-compose (already done)
+The docker-compose.yaml already has hardcoded values, but Coolify's `env_file: .env` might be overriding them.
+
+## Current Status
+- PostgreSQL: ✅ Running with user `bbdf554`
+- Redis: ✅ Running
+- Frontend: ✅ Running
+- Directus: ❌ Can't connect (wrong username)
+
+## Next Steps
+1. Check if Coolify has environment variable overrides
+2. Remove any `DB_USER=sparkuser` variables
+3. Redeploy
diff --git a/docker-compose.yaml b/docker-compose.yaml
index f8ac428..33002ef 100644
--- a/docker-compose.yaml
+++ b/docker-compose.yaml
@@ -11,7 +11,7 @@ services:
       POSTGRES_PASSWORD: Idk@2026lolhappyha232
       POSTGRES_DB: directus
     healthcheck:
-      test: ["CMD-SHELL", "pg_isready -h 127.0.0.1"]
+      test: [ "CMD-SHELL", "pg_isready -h 127.0.0.1" ]
       interval: 5s
       timeout: 5s
       retries: 10
@@ -23,7 +23,7 @@ services:
     volumes:
       - 'redis-data:/data'
     healthcheck:
-      test: ["CMD", "redis-cli", "ping"]
+      test: [ "CMD", "redis-cli", "ping" ]
       interval: 5s
       timeout: 5s
       retries: 5
@@ -46,20 +46,20 @@ services:
       # Match existing database credentials
       DB_USER: bbdf554
       DB_PASSWORD: Idk@2026lolhappyha232
-      
+
       MAX_PAYLOAD_SIZE: '500mb'
       RATE_LIMITER_ENABLED: 'false'
       CORS_ORIGIN: 'https://launch.jumpstartscaling.com,http://localhost:4321'
       CORS_ENABLED: 'true'
       PUBLIC_URL: 'https://spark.jumpstartscaling.com'
-      
+
     depends_on:
       postgresql:
         condition: service_healthy
       redis:
         condition: service_healthy
     healthcheck:
-      test: ["CMD", "wget", "--spider", "--no-verbose", "http://127.0.0.1:8055/server/health"]
+      test: [ "CMD", "wget", "--spider", "--no-verbose", "http://127.0.0.1:8055/server/health" ]
       interval: 10s
       timeout: 5s
       retries: 5
@@ -92,3 +92,6 @@ volumes:
   redis-data:
   directus-uploads:
   directus-extensions:
+
+    # NOTE: No env_file specified - all credentials are hardcoded above
+    # This prevents Coolify from loading external .env files that might override values