diff --git a/compose.yaml b/compose.yaml
index 8d6048b..8f7749a 100644
--- a/compose.yaml
+++ b/compose.yaml
@@ -1,4 +1,3 @@
-
 services:
   api-server:
     build:
@@ -7,12 +6,13 @@ services:
     container_name: DwinzoApi_V0_end
     environment:
       NODE_ENV: development
+      MONGO_URI: mongodb://mongo-Dwinzocontainer:27017
     ports:
       - "4999:4999"
     expose:
-      - 4999
+      - "4999"
     depends_on:
-      - mongo-external
+      - net-ready
     networks:
       - DwinzoMajor
 
@@ -23,23 +23,22 @@ services:
     container_name: DwinzoSocket_V0_end
     environment:
       NODE_ENV: development
+      MONGO_URI: mongodb://mongo-Dwinzocontainer:27017
     ports:
       - "7999:7999"
     expose:
-      - 7999
+      - "7999"
     depends_on:
-      - mongo-external
+      - net-ready
     networks:
       - DwinzoMajor
 
-  mongo-external:
-    image: mongo:latest
-    container_name: mongo-Dwinzocontainer  # REFERENCE ONLY, this will not be recreated
-    restart: "no"
-    entrypoint: ["echo", "External Mongo container placeholder"]
+  net-ready:
+    image: busybox
+    command: ["sh", "-c", "echo 'Network check complete'; sleep 1"]
     networks:
       - DwinzoMajor
 
 networks:
   DwinzoMajor:
-    external: true
+    driver: bridge