diff --git a/src/Akka.Persistence.PostgreSql.Tests/Json/PostgreSqlJournalJsonSpec.cs b/src/Akka.Persistence.PostgreSql.Tests/Json/PostgreSqlJournalJsonSpec.cs
index 4e17779..74dc7d0 100644
--- a/src/Akka.Persistence.PostgreSql.Tests/Json/PostgreSqlJournalJsonSpec.cs
+++ b/src/Akka.Persistence.PostgreSql.Tests/Json/PostgreSqlJournalJsonSpec.cs
@@ -21,7 +21,7 @@ private static Config Initialize(PostgresFixture fixture)
             DbUtils.Initialize(fixture);
 
             return ConfigurationFactory.ParseString(@"
-            akka.persistence {
+                akka.persistence {
                     publish-plugin-commands = on
                     journal {
                         plugin = ""akka.persistence.journal.postgresql""
@@ -35,7 +35,8 @@ class = ""Akka.Persistence.PostgreSql.Journal.PostgreSqlJournal, Akka.Persistenc
                             stored-as = ""jsonb""
                         }
                     }
-                }");
+                }
+                akka.test.single-expect-default = 10s");
         }
 
         // TODO: hack. Replace when https://github.com/akkadotnet/akka.net/issues/3811
diff --git a/src/Akka.Persistence.PostgreSql.Tests/Json/PostgreSqlSnapshotStoreJsonSpec.cs b/src/Akka.Persistence.PostgreSql.Tests/Json/PostgreSqlSnapshotStoreJsonSpec.cs
index ab8f9a1..b32a02c 100644
--- a/src/Akka.Persistence.PostgreSql.Tests/Json/PostgreSqlSnapshotStoreJsonSpec.cs
+++ b/src/Akka.Persistence.PostgreSql.Tests/Json/PostgreSqlSnapshotStoreJsonSpec.cs
@@ -21,7 +21,7 @@ private static Config Initialize(PostgresFixture fixture)
             DbUtils.Initialize(fixture);
 
             return ConfigurationFactory.ParseString(@"
-            akka.persistence {
+                akka.persistence {
                     publish-plugin-commands = on
                     snapshot-store {
                         plugin = ""akka.persistence.snapshot-store.postgresql""
@@ -35,7 +35,8 @@ class = ""Akka.Persistence.PostgreSql.Snapshot.PostgreSqlSnapshotStore, Akka.Per
                             stored-as = ""JSONB""
                         }
                     }
-                }");
+                }
+                akka.test.single-expect-default = 10s");
         }
 
         
diff --git a/src/Akka.Persistence.PostgreSql.Tests/Performance/PostgreSqlJournalPerfSpec.cs b/src/Akka.Persistence.PostgreSql.Tests/Performance/PostgreSqlJournalPerfSpec.cs
index 5305561..80c9825 100644
--- a/src/Akka.Persistence.PostgreSql.Tests/Performance/PostgreSqlJournalPerfSpec.cs
+++ b/src/Akka.Persistence.PostgreSql.Tests/Performance/PostgreSqlJournalPerfSpec.cs
@@ -29,14 +29,13 @@ private static Config CreateSpecConfig(PostgresFixture fixture)
             DbUtils.Initialize(fixture);
 
             return ConfigurationFactory.ParseString(@"
-            akka.loglevel = INFO
             akka.persistence.journal.plugin = ""akka.persistence.journal.postgresql""
             akka.persistence.journal.postgresql {
                 class = ""Akka.Persistence.PostgreSql.Journal.PostgreSqlJournal, Akka.Persistence.PostgreSql""
                 auto-initialize = on
                 connection-string = """ + DbUtils.ConnectionString + @"""
             }
-            akka.test.single-expect-default = 3s")
+            akka.test.single-expect-default = 10s")
                 .WithFallback(PostgreSqlPersistence.DefaultConfiguration())
                 .WithFallback(Persistence.DefaultConfig());
         }
diff --git a/src/Akka.Persistence.PostgreSql.Tests/PostgreSqlJournalConnectionFailureSpec.cs b/src/Akka.Persistence.PostgreSql.Tests/PostgreSqlJournalConnectionFailureSpec.cs
index 5cf7389..303f6a2 100644
--- a/src/Akka.Persistence.PostgreSql.Tests/PostgreSqlJournalConnectionFailureSpec.cs
+++ b/src/Akka.Persistence.PostgreSql.Tests/PostgreSqlJournalConnectionFailureSpec.cs
@@ -35,7 +35,8 @@ class = ""Akka.Persistence.PostgreSql.Journal.PostgreSqlJournal, Akka.Persistenc
                             connection-string = """ + connectionString + @"""
                         }
                     }
-                }";
+                }
+                akka.test.single-expect-default = 10s";
 
             return ConfigurationFactory.ParseString(config);
         }
diff --git a/src/Akka.Persistence.PostgreSql.Tests/PostgreSqlJournalSpec.cs b/src/Akka.Persistence.PostgreSql.Tests/PostgreSqlJournalSpec.cs
index bb87fa0..8e56bb4 100644
--- a/src/Akka.Persistence.PostgreSql.Tests/PostgreSqlJournalSpec.cs
+++ b/src/Akka.Persistence.PostgreSql.Tests/PostgreSqlJournalSpec.cs
@@ -34,7 +34,8 @@ class = ""Akka.Persistence.PostgreSql.Journal.PostgreSqlJournal, Akka.Persistenc
                             connection-string = """ + DbUtils.ConnectionString + @"""
                         }
                     }
-                }";
+                }
+                akka.test.single-expect-default = 10s";
 
             return ConfigurationFactory.ParseString(config);
         }
diff --git a/src/Akka.Persistence.PostgreSql.Tests/PostgreSqlSnapshotStoreConnectionFailureSpec.cs b/src/Akka.Persistence.PostgreSql.Tests/PostgreSqlSnapshotStoreConnectionFailureSpec.cs
index 9d991dd..290c6dd 100644
--- a/src/Akka.Persistence.PostgreSql.Tests/PostgreSqlSnapshotStoreConnectionFailureSpec.cs
+++ b/src/Akka.Persistence.PostgreSql.Tests/PostgreSqlSnapshotStoreConnectionFailureSpec.cs
@@ -37,7 +37,8 @@ class = ""Akka.Persistence.PostgreSql.Snapshot.PostgreSqlSnapshotStore, Akka.Per
                             connection-string = """ + connectionString + @"""
                         }
                     }
-                }";
+                }
+                akka.test.single-expect-default = 10s";
 
             return ConfigurationFactory.ParseString(config);
         }
diff --git a/src/Akka.Persistence.PostgreSql.Tests/PostgreSqlSnapshotStoreSpec.cs b/src/Akka.Persistence.PostgreSql.Tests/PostgreSqlSnapshotStoreSpec.cs
index 93486ec..995cebf 100644
--- a/src/Akka.Persistence.PostgreSql.Tests/PostgreSqlSnapshotStoreSpec.cs
+++ b/src/Akka.Persistence.PostgreSql.Tests/PostgreSqlSnapshotStoreSpec.cs
@@ -35,7 +35,8 @@ class = ""Akka.Persistence.PostgreSql.Snapshot.PostgreSqlSnapshotStore, Akka.Per
                             connection-string = """ + DbUtils.ConnectionString + @"""
                         }
                     }
-                }";
+                }
+                akka.test.single-expect-default = 10s";
 
             return ConfigurationFactory.ParseString(config);
         }
diff --git a/src/Akka.Persistence.PostgreSql.Tests/Query/PostgreSqlAllEventsSpec.cs b/src/Akka.Persistence.PostgreSql.Tests/Query/PostgreSqlAllEventsSpec.cs
index ef6b2e1..f8b6795 100644
--- a/src/Akka.Persistence.PostgreSql.Tests/Query/PostgreSqlAllEventsSpec.cs
+++ b/src/Akka.Persistence.PostgreSql.Tests/Query/PostgreSqlAllEventsSpec.cs
@@ -23,8 +23,6 @@ private static Config Initialize(PostgresFixture fixture)
             DbUtils.Initialize(fixture);
 
             return ConfigurationFactory.ParseString($@"
-            akka.loglevel = INFO
-            akka.test.single-expect-default = 10s
             akka.persistence.journal.plugin = ""akka.persistence.journal.postgresql""
             akka.persistence.journal.postgresql {{
                 class = ""Akka.Persistence.PostgreSql.Journal.PostgreSqlJournal, Akka.Persistence.PostgreSql""
@@ -34,7 +32,7 @@ class = ""Akka.Persistence.PostgreSql.Journal.PostgreSqlJournal, Akka.Persistenc
                 connection-string = ""{DbUtils.ConnectionString}""
                 refresh-interval = 1s
             }}
-            akka.test.single-expect-default = 15s")
+            akka.test.single-expect-default = 10s")
                 .WithFallback(PostgreSqlPersistence.DefaultConfiguration())
                 .WithFallback(SqlReadJournal.DefaultConfiguration())
                 .WithFallback(Persistence.DefaultConfig());
diff --git a/src/Akka.Persistence.PostgreSql.Tests/Query/PostgreSqlCurrentAllEventsSpec.cs b/src/Akka.Persistence.PostgreSql.Tests/Query/PostgreSqlCurrentAllEventsSpec.cs
index a7c7102..3a8c47c 100644
--- a/src/Akka.Persistence.PostgreSql.Tests/Query/PostgreSqlCurrentAllEventsSpec.cs
+++ b/src/Akka.Persistence.PostgreSql.Tests/Query/PostgreSqlCurrentAllEventsSpec.cs
@@ -23,8 +23,6 @@ private static Config Initialize(PostgresFixture fixture)
             DbUtils.Initialize(fixture);
 
             return ConfigurationFactory.ParseString($@"
-            akka.loglevel = INFO
-            akka.test.single-expect-default = 10s
             akka.persistence.journal.plugin = ""akka.persistence.journal.postgresql""
             akka.persistence.journal.postgresql {{
                 class = ""Akka.Persistence.PostgreSql.Journal.PostgreSqlJournal, Akka.Persistence.PostgreSql""
@@ -34,7 +32,7 @@ class = ""Akka.Persistence.PostgreSql.Journal.PostgreSqlJournal, Akka.Persistenc
                 connection-string = ""{DbUtils.ConnectionString}""
                 refresh-interval = 1s
             }}
-            akka.test.single-expect-default = 15s")
+            akka.test.single-expect-default = 10s")
                 .WithFallback(PostgreSqlPersistence.DefaultConfiguration())
                 .WithFallback(SqlReadJournal.DefaultConfiguration())
                 .WithFallback(Persistence.DefaultConfig());
diff --git a/src/Akka.Persistence.PostgreSql.Tests/Query/PostgreSqlCurrentEventsByPersistenceIdSpec.cs b/src/Akka.Persistence.PostgreSql.Tests/Query/PostgreSqlCurrentEventsByPersistenceIdSpec.cs
index b635fe4..7713c44 100644
--- a/src/Akka.Persistence.PostgreSql.Tests/Query/PostgreSqlCurrentEventsByPersistenceIdSpec.cs
+++ b/src/Akka.Persistence.PostgreSql.Tests/Query/PostgreSqlCurrentEventsByPersistenceIdSpec.cs
@@ -23,17 +23,16 @@ private static Config Initialize(PostgresFixture fixture)
             DbUtils.Initialize(fixture);
 
             return ConfigurationFactory.ParseString($@"
-            akka.loglevel = INFO
             akka.persistence.journal.plugin = ""akka.persistence.journal.postgresql""
             akka.persistence.journal.postgresql {{
                 class = ""Akka.Persistence.PostgreSql.Journal.PostgreSqlJournal, Akka.Persistence.PostgreSql""
                 plugin-dispatcher = ""akka.actor.default-dispatcher""
                 table-name = event_journal
                 auto-initialize = on
-                connection-string = """ + DbUtils.ConnectionString + @"""
+                connection-string = ""{DbUtils.ConnectionString}""
                 refresh-interval = 1s
             }}
-            akka.test.single-expect-default = 15s")
+            akka.test.single-expect-default = 10s")
                 .WithFallback(PostgreSqlPersistence.DefaultConfiguration())
                 .WithFallback(SqlReadJournal.DefaultConfiguration())
                 .WithFallback(Persistence.DefaultConfig());
diff --git a/src/Akka.Persistence.PostgreSql.Tests/Query/PostgreSqlCurrentEventsByTagSpec.cs b/src/Akka.Persistence.PostgreSql.Tests/Query/PostgreSqlCurrentEventsByTagSpec.cs
index ddede9e..04ee33a 100644
--- a/src/Akka.Persistence.PostgreSql.Tests/Query/PostgreSqlCurrentEventsByTagSpec.cs
+++ b/src/Akka.Persistence.PostgreSql.Tests/Query/PostgreSqlCurrentEventsByTagSpec.cs
@@ -26,7 +26,6 @@ private static Config Initialize(PostgresFixture fixture)
             DbUtils.Initialize(fixture);
 
             return ConfigurationFactory.ParseString($@"
-            akka.loglevel = INFO
             akka.persistence.journal.plugin = ""akka.persistence.journal.postgresql""
             akka.persistence.journal.postgresql {{
                 event-adapters {{
@@ -39,10 +38,10 @@ class = ""Akka.Persistence.PostgreSql.Journal.PostgreSqlJournal, Akka.Persistenc
                 plugin-dispatcher = ""akka.actor.default-dispatcher""
                 table-name = event_journal
                 auto-initialize = on
-                connection-string = """ + DbUtils.ConnectionString + @"""
+                connection-string = ""{DbUtils.ConnectionString}""
                 refresh-interval = 1s
             }}
-            akka.test.single-expect-default = 15s")
+            akka.test.single-expect-default = 10s")
                 .WithFallback(PostgreSqlPersistence.DefaultConfiguration())
                 .WithFallback(SqlReadJournal.DefaultConfiguration())
                 .WithFallback(Persistence.DefaultConfig());
diff --git a/src/Akka.Persistence.PostgreSql.Tests/Query/PostgreSqlCurrentPersistenceIdsSpec.cs b/src/Akka.Persistence.PostgreSql.Tests/Query/PostgreSqlCurrentPersistenceIdsSpec.cs
index 7884a9e..14468b1 100644
--- a/src/Akka.Persistence.PostgreSql.Tests/Query/PostgreSqlCurrentPersistenceIdsSpec.cs
+++ b/src/Akka.Persistence.PostgreSql.Tests/Query/PostgreSqlCurrentPersistenceIdsSpec.cs
@@ -23,8 +23,6 @@ private static Config Initialize(PostgresFixture fixture)
             DbUtils.Initialize(fixture);
 
             return ConfigurationFactory.ParseString($@"
-            akka.loglevel = INFO
-            akka.test.single-expect-default = 10s
             akka.persistence.journal.plugin = ""akka.persistence.journal.postgresql""
             akka.persistence.journal.postgresql {{
                 class = ""Akka.Persistence.PostgreSql.Journal.PostgreSqlJournal, Akka.Persistence.PostgreSql""
@@ -34,7 +32,7 @@ class = ""Akka.Persistence.PostgreSql.Journal.PostgreSqlJournal, Akka.Persistenc
                 connection-string = ""{DbUtils.ConnectionString}""
                 refresh-interval = 1s
             }}
-            akka.test.single-expect-default = 15s")
+            akka.test.single-expect-default = 10s")
                 .WithFallback(PostgreSqlPersistence.DefaultConfiguration())
                 .WithFallback(SqlReadJournal.DefaultConfiguration())
                 .WithFallback(Persistence.DefaultConfig());
diff --git a/src/Akka.Persistence.PostgreSql.Tests/Query/PostgreSqlEventsByPersistenceIdSpec.cs b/src/Akka.Persistence.PostgreSql.Tests/Query/PostgreSqlEventsByPersistenceIdSpec.cs
index ed58d4d..e510cbf 100644
--- a/src/Akka.Persistence.PostgreSql.Tests/Query/PostgreSqlEventsByPersistenceIdSpec.cs
+++ b/src/Akka.Persistence.PostgreSql.Tests/Query/PostgreSqlEventsByPersistenceIdSpec.cs
@@ -23,17 +23,16 @@ private static Config Initialize(PostgresFixture fixture)
             DbUtils.Initialize(fixture);
 
             return ConfigurationFactory.ParseString($@"
-            akka.loglevel = INFO
             akka.persistence.journal.plugin = ""akka.persistence.journal.postgresql""
             akka.persistence.journal.postgresql {{
                 class = ""Akka.Persistence.PostgreSql.Journal.PostgreSqlJournal, Akka.Persistence.PostgreSql""
                 plugin-dispatcher = ""akka.actor.default-dispatcher""
                 table-name = event_journal
                 auto-initialize = on
-                connection-string = """ + DbUtils.ConnectionString + @"""
+                connection-string = ""{DbUtils.ConnectionString}""
                 refresh-interval = 1s
             }}
-            akka.test.single-expect-default = 15s")
+            akka.test.single-expect-default = 10s")
                 .WithFallback(PostgreSqlPersistence.DefaultConfiguration())
                 .WithFallback(SqlReadJournal.DefaultConfiguration())
                 .WithFallback(Persistence.DefaultConfig());
diff --git a/src/Akka.Persistence.PostgreSql.Tests/Query/PostgreSqlEventsByTagSpec.cs b/src/Akka.Persistence.PostgreSql.Tests/Query/PostgreSqlEventsByTagSpec.cs
index 2750409..e0c0ac1 100644
--- a/src/Akka.Persistence.PostgreSql.Tests/Query/PostgreSqlEventsByTagSpec.cs
+++ b/src/Akka.Persistence.PostgreSql.Tests/Query/PostgreSqlEventsByTagSpec.cs
@@ -23,7 +23,6 @@ private static Config Initialize(PostgresFixture fixture)
             DbUtils.Initialize(fixture);
 
             return ConfigurationFactory.ParseString($@"
-            akka.loglevel = INFO
             akka.persistence.journal.plugin = ""akka.persistence.journal.postgresql""
             akka.persistence.journal.postgresql {{
                 event-adapters {{
@@ -34,12 +33,11 @@ private static Config Initialize(PostgresFixture fixture)
                 }}
                 class = ""Akka.Persistence.PostgreSql.Journal.PostgreSqlJournal, Akka.Persistence.PostgreSql""
                 plugin-dispatcher = ""akka.actor.default-dispatcher""
-                table-name = event_journal
                 auto-initialize = on
-                connection-string = """ + DbUtils.ConnectionString + @"""
+                connection-string = ""{DbUtils.ConnectionString}""
                 refresh-interval = 1s
             }}
-            akka.test.single-expect-default = 15s")
+            akka.test.single-expect-default = 10s")
                 .WithFallback(PostgreSqlPersistence.DefaultConfiguration())
                 .WithFallback(SqlReadJournal.DefaultConfiguration())
                 .WithFallback(Persistence.DefaultConfig());
diff --git a/src/Akka.Persistence.PostgreSql.Tests/Query/PostgreSqlPersistenceIdsSpec.cs b/src/Akka.Persistence.PostgreSql.Tests/Query/PostgreSqlPersistenceIdsSpec.cs
index e2ddb1d..6d20ad0 100644
--- a/src/Akka.Persistence.PostgreSql.Tests/Query/PostgreSqlPersistenceIdsSpec.cs
+++ b/src/Akka.Persistence.PostgreSql.Tests/Query/PostgreSqlPersistenceIdsSpec.cs
@@ -23,8 +23,6 @@ private static Config Initialize(PostgresFixture fixture)
             DbUtils.Initialize(fixture);
 
             return ConfigurationFactory.ParseString($@"
-            akka.loglevel = INFO
-            akka.test.single-expect-default = 10s
             akka.persistence.journal.plugin = ""akka.persistence.journal.postgresql""
             akka.persistence.journal.postgresql {{
                 class = ""Akka.Persistence.PostgreSql.Journal.PostgreSqlJournal, Akka.Persistence.PostgreSql""
@@ -34,7 +32,7 @@ class = ""Akka.Persistence.PostgreSql.Journal.PostgreSqlJournal, Akka.Persistenc
                 connection-string = ""{DbUtils.ConnectionString}""
                 refresh-interval = 1s
             }}
-            akka.test.single-expect-default = 15s")
+            akka.test.single-expect-default = 10s")
                 .WithFallback(PostgreSqlPersistence.DefaultConfiguration())
                 .WithFallback(SqlReadJournal.DefaultConfiguration())
                 .WithFallback(Persistence.DefaultConfig());
diff --git a/src/Akka.Persistence.PostgreSql.Tests/Serialization/PostgreSqlJournalSerializationSpec.cs b/src/Akka.Persistence.PostgreSql.Tests/Serialization/PostgreSqlJournalSerializationSpec.cs
index 1742f22..478e4e8 100644
--- a/src/Akka.Persistence.PostgreSql.Tests/Serialization/PostgreSqlJournalSerializationSpec.cs
+++ b/src/Akka.Persistence.PostgreSql.Tests/Serialization/PostgreSqlJournalSerializationSpec.cs
@@ -39,7 +39,8 @@ class = ""Akka.Persistence.PostgreSql.Journal.PostgreSqlJournal, Akka.Persistenc
                             connection-string = """ + DbUtils.ConnectionString + @"""
                         }
                     }
-                }");
+                }
+                akka.test.single-expect-default = 10s");
         }
 
         [Fact(Skip = "Sql plugin does not support EventAdapter.Manifest")]
diff --git a/src/Akka.Persistence.PostgreSql.Tests/Serialization/PostgreSqlSnapshotStoreSerializationSpec.cs b/src/Akka.Persistence.PostgreSql.Tests/Serialization/PostgreSqlSnapshotStoreSerializationSpec.cs
index c69deb8..b7d03b5 100644
--- a/src/Akka.Persistence.PostgreSql.Tests/Serialization/PostgreSqlSnapshotStoreSerializationSpec.cs
+++ b/src/Akka.Persistence.PostgreSql.Tests/Serialization/PostgreSqlSnapshotStoreSerializationSpec.cs
@@ -39,7 +39,8 @@ class = ""Akka.Persistence.PostgreSql.Journal.PostgreSqlJournal, Akka.Persistenc
                             connection-string = """ + DbUtils.ConnectionString + @"""
                         }
                     }
-                }");
+                }
+                akka.test.single-expect-default = 10s");
         }
     }
 }
diff --git a/src/Akka.Persistence.PostgreSql/postgresql.conf b/src/Akka.Persistence.PostgreSql/postgresql.conf
index dde4435..b9a608a 100644
--- a/src/Akka.Persistence.PostgreSql/postgresql.conf
+++ b/src/Akka.Persistence.PostgreSql/postgresql.conf
@@ -66,6 +66,9 @@
 			# should corresponding journal table be initialized automatically
 			auto-initialize = off
 
+			# Postgres data type for payload column. Allowed options: bytea, json, jsonb
+			stored-as = bytea
+
 			# Setting used to toggle sequential read access when loading large objects
 			# from journals and snapshot stores.
 			sequential-access = off