diff --git a/.env.default b/.env.default
index 73c11db..2ea4d63 100644
--- a/.env.default
+++ b/.env.default
@@ -81,6 +81,10 @@ AE_DB_PASSWORD=XXXX
 # Connection Tuning
 AE_DB_CONNECTION_TIMEOUT=7
 AE_DB_POOL_RECYCLE=900
+# Pool size per API replica. Total max DB connections = AE_API_REPLICAS × (AE_DB_POOL_SIZE + AE_DB_POOL_MAX_OVERFLOW)
+# With defaults (10+20) and 3 replicas = 90 max connections. MARIADB_MAX_CONNECTIONS must be higher.
+AE_DB_POOL_SIZE=10
+AE_DB_POOL_MAX_OVERFLOW=20
 
 # ------------------------------------------------------------------------------
 # REDIS SETTINGS