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# Reference the above [[Lactobacillus#Culture_Charts|Culture Charts]] for how long the starter should be incubated for before pitching (24-48 hours is a general rule of thumb). 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 (turbidity is an indication that the culture is growing, and once the top portion of the starter starts to clear then that is a sign that growth has stopped) <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>.
# The chalk is not desirable to pitch into the beer because of its buffering effect. The chalk will sediment within hours of being added to the starter, or if a stir plate is used, a couple of hours after the stir plate is turned off <ref>[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Stokes%27_law Stokes' law. Wikipedia. retrieved 09/24/2015.]</ref><ref name="Sam_starter2"></ref>. The ''Lactobacillus'' should stay in suspension for at least a day or two after the starter is done, so swirling the starter isn't necessary, although it is certainly an option. If the starter is swirled, allow a couple of hours for the chalk to sediment out again. After the chalk sediments to the bottom of the flask, pour all of the liquid from the top of the starter into the wort/beer, and leave the chalk sediment behind. Avoid cold crashing the starter because it can have an adverse effect on the bacteria's health <ref name="bryan_lacto_starters">[http://suigenerisbrewing.blogspot.ca/2015/05/lacto-starters.html "Lacto Starters." Bryan from Sui Generis Blog. Retrieved 6/15/2015.]</ref><ref name="sam_starter"></ref>.
Microbiologist Dr. Matt Humbard uses a modified version of the above recipe: combine 10% apple juice (no preservative) with 1.010 SG wort and a tablespoon of calcium carbonate for every gallon. To maintain the culture indefinitely, every ~4 weeks stir the culture and take 10-15% of the liquid culture and add it to a new batch of starter media. As long as yeast does not contaminate the process, the lactic acid bacteria can be maintained this way indefinitely <ref>[https://www.facebook.com/groups/MilkTheFunk/permalink/3154764734551719/?comment_id=3154792411215618&reply_comment_id=3154838211211038 Dr. Matt Humbard. Milk The Funk Facebook post on maintaining a lactic acid bacteria culture. 12/25/2019.]</ref>.
See [http://suigenerisbrewing.blogspot.ca/2015/05/lacto-starters.html ''Lacto Starters'', by Bryan of Sui Generis blog] for additional information on ''Lactobacillus'' starters.