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# Make a 1 liter starter of '''1.040 SG (10°P) Dried Malt Extract wort with 10% apple juice + 20 grams of chalk (CaCO3) + yeast nutrients''' for growth results that are close to MRS media growth results (as per [https://eurekabrewing.wordpress.com/2015/05/18/evaluate-starter-media-to-propagate-lactobacillus-sp/ Samuel Aeschlimann from Eureka Brewing Blog]). The chalk won't dissolve into solution; don't worry about it. <ref name="sam_starter">[https://eurekabrewing.wordpress.com/2015/05/18/evaluate-starter-media-to-propagate-lactobacillus-sp/ Evaluate starter media to propagate Lactobacillus sp., Eureka Brewing Blog, by Samuel Aeschlimann.]</ref>.
# Best practice is that starters should not be aerated, although there may be an exception to this for ''L. brevis'' <ref name="brevis_aeration"></ref>. Some people prefer to stir their starter with an airlock in order to keep the bacteria in suspension, others do not use a stir plate and keep the starter still. One advantage to not usinga stir plate at least until the brewer is more familiar with their culture is that the top of the starter will begin to clear when the starter is done (see step 4).
# The starter should be held at the temperature best suited for the culture as shown in the [[Lactobacillus#Culture_Charts|Culture Charts]].
# Reference the above [[Lactobacillus#Culture_Charts|Culture Charts]] for how long the starter should be incubated for before pitching. If a stir plate is not used, one indication that the starter is done will be when the top of the starter begins to clear <ref name="Sam_starter2">[https://www.facebook.com/groups/MilkTheFunk/permalink/1131778916850321/?comment_id=1131806746847538&offset=0&total_comments=6&comment_tracking=%7B%22tn%22%3A%22R2%22%7D Conversation with Sam Aeschlimann of Eureka Brewing Blog on MTF. 08/20/2015.]</ref>.