Yeast head on a starter?

[Malc H]

Hi. I have made a starter for the first time, using white labs yeast. I am not sure how it is developing as I now realise I don't have a great seal on my airlock (using a rubber bung for a carboy over a pint milk bottle) 24 hours in what should the mixture look like? should there be a yeast head? any thoughts welcome!

 

[PD]

mine looked as dead as a dodo for 24hrs till I added it to brew !.....then Armegeddon struck.

 

[pittsy]

ideally you want around 2 days for starter to be fully ready sometimes as long as 3 days . You will have a foamy head but not much , you also should cover with foil and not a bung/airlock as you want oxygen to get in for the yeast and it is best to give your starter a swirl every few hours or so to help get more oxygen for the yeast , the yeast needs time to multiple and to keep it in its growth stage an og of around 1030/1040 is wanted so the yeast stays in the growth stage and not converting to alcohol stage . If like me you want to strain the yeast but need a starter then pitch early like after 1 day if making brews like hefes .

 

[Malc H]

Thanks for the replies, I am a bit more relaxed about it now. It has been fizzing when i swirled it, but not now.Think I will brew today!