diff --git a/onionr/communicator.py b/onionr/communicator.py
index 08c07c7f..c42be173 100755
--- a/onionr/communicator.py
+++ b/onionr/communicator.py
@@ -53,7 +53,7 @@ class OnionrCommunicate:
         highFailureRate = 10
         heartBeatTimer = 0
         heartBeatRate = 5
-        pexTimer = 1000 # How often we should check for new peers
+        pexTimer = 25 # How often we should check for new peers
         pexCount = 0
         logger.debug('Communicator debugging enabled.')
         torID = open('data/hs/hostname').read()
@@ -79,7 +79,7 @@ class OnionrCommunicate:
                         self.peerData[i]['failCount'] -= 1
             if pexTimer == pexCount:
                 self.getNewPeers()
-                pexCount = 0
+                pexCount = 0 # TODO: do not reset timer if low peer count
             if heartBeatRate == heartBeatTimer:
                 logger.debug('Communicator heartbeat')
                 heartBeatTimer = 0
@@ -97,7 +97,7 @@ class OnionrCommunicate:
 
     def getNewPeers(self):
         '''
-            Get new peers
+            Get new peers and keys
         '''
         peersCheck = 5 # Amount of peers to ask for new peers + keys
         peersChecked = 0
@@ -118,6 +118,8 @@ class OnionrCommunicate:
             logger.info('Using ' + peerList[i] + ' to find new peers')
             try:
                 newAdders = self.performGet('pex', peerList[i], skipHighFailureAddress=True)
+                logger.debug('Attempting to merge address: ')
+                logger.debug(newAdders)
                 self._utils.mergeAdders(newAdders)
             except requests.exceptions.ConnectionError:
                 logger.info(peerList[i] + ' connection failed')
@@ -126,6 +128,8 @@ class OnionrCommunicate:
                 try:
                     logger.info('Using ' + peerList[i] + ' to find new keys')
                     newKeys = self.performGet('kex', peerList[i], skipHighFailureAddress=True)
+                    logger.debug('Attempting to merge pubkey: ')
+                    logger.debug(newKeys)
                     # TODO: Require keys to come with POW token (very large amount of POW)
                     self._utils.mergeKeys(newKeys)
                 except requests.exceptions.ConnectionError:
diff --git a/onionr/core.py b/onionr/core.py
index 58b7aec8..a920a03d 100644
--- a/onionr/core.py
+++ b/onionr/core.py
@@ -359,8 +359,8 @@ class Core:
             payload = 'SELECT * FROM peers;'
         peerList = []
         for i in c.execute(payload):
-            print('lol - ' + i[2])
-            peerList.append(i[2])
+            if type(i[2] != None):
+                peerList.append(i[2])
         peerList.append(self._crypto.pubKey)
         conn.close()
         return peerList
diff --git a/onionr/onionrutils.py b/onionr/onionrutils.py
index aa60a739..2289672a 100644
--- a/onionr/onionrutils.py
+++ b/onionr/onionrutils.py
@@ -58,8 +58,8 @@ class OnionrUtils:
         '''Merge ed25519 key list to our database'''
         retVal = False
         if newKeyList != False:
-            for key in newKeyList:
-                if not key in self._core.listPeers(randomOrder=False):
+            for key in newKeyList.split(','):
+                if not key in self._core.listPeers(randomOrder=False) and type(key) != None and key != self._core._crypto.pubKey:
                     if self._core.addPeer(key):
                         retVal = True
         return retVal
@@ -69,13 +69,22 @@ class OnionrUtils:
         '''Merge peer adders list to our database'''
         retVal = False
         if newAdderList != False:
-            for adder in newAdderList:
-                if not adder in self._core.listAdders(randomOrder=False):
+            for adder in newAdderList.split(','):
+                if not adder in self._core.listAdders(randomOrder=False) and adder.strip() != self.getMyAddress():
                     if self._core.addAddress(adder):
                         logger.info('added ' + adder + ' to db')
+                        input()
                         retVal = True
+                else:
+                    logger.debug(adder + " is either our address or already in our DB")
         return retVal
 
+    def getMyAddress(self):
+        myAddressFile = open("data/hs/hostname", 'r')
+        myAddress = myAddressFile.read()
+        myAddressFile.close()
+        return myAddress.strip()
+
     def localCommand(self, command):
         '''
             Send a command to the local http API server, securely. Intended for local clients, DO NOT USE for remote peers.