Samantha,

Thanks for responding so promptly!

- I've been keeping the starter on my counter in a 12 cup plastic
container.
- It stays at room temperature, which has been 50-75 as of late.
- I use King Arthur brand AP flour to feed it.
- I feed it once per day (usually around 3pm) with 1 cup of flour, 1
cup of Dasani water, per cup of starter.

Here's a couple photos I took of it a few days before the issues began:
http://ojuice.teamslack.net/bread/sdside.jpg
http://ojuice.teamslack.net/bread/sdtop.jpg

thanks,
ojuice


Samartha Deva wrote:
> Hey Juice,
>
> If you mention "suddenly", it may need a closer look.
>
> Sourdough does not change "suddenly" and not without a reason which
> often remains mysterious.
>
> All essential information you give is:
>
> - starter was ok
> - starter no longer ok
> - starter shows hooch
>
> That's normal behavior for a mistreated starter. You probably insulted
> it and now it shows you the hooch (finger in starterland).
>
> To give some more information could enlighten the issue which is
> probably what you are looking for.
>
> - where and how do you keep your starter
> - at what temperature do you keep your starter
> - what kind of a starter (or flour you use) is it
> - how much do you feed it - ratios of flour in starter to flour addition
> - what are the feeding intervals
>
> If you disclose more information along those lines, the reason for the
> insult can probably be found.
>
> And note, it is probably not a good idea to insult your starter. They
> can take revenge at the most unpleasant situations.
>
> Samartha
>
>
> ojuice wrote:
> > So I got my sourdough starter going about a month ago, and things were
> > going very well until this past Monday. Suddenly the starter no longer
> > rises after feedings and doesn't have a delicious and yeasty smell.
> > Instead it's smelling like pancake batter (nothing, basically), and
> > just barely gets a few bubbles after a day. However, this morning when
> > I woke up and checked on it, there was a thin layer of hooch on top.
> > Does anyone know what's going on with it? Do you think I need to start
> > over?
> >
> > thanks,
> > ojuice
> >
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> >