Let me detail how I started my first starter.

I took some 2 year old Carl's dried starter and rehydrated it according to package directions. I used white unbleached bread flour and tap water which is not overly chlorinated..that is it does not taste of chlorine.

Day 1--no action.

Day 2--inoculated with one tablespoon of starter to 1 cup of water and 1.5 cups of flour.

Day 3--inoculated with one tablespoon of starter to 1 cup of water and 1.5 cups of flour...tiny bubbles throughout.

Day 4--inoculated with one tablespoon of starter to 1 cup of water and 1.5 cups of flour. ..fewer tiny bubbles.

Day 5--inoculated with one tablespoon of starter to 1 cup of water and 1.5 cups of flour--nothing after 12 hours. no bubbles. looks dead.

Panicked. discovered this site.

REFED after 12 hours 1 cup of water and 1.5 cups of WHEAT FLOUR

AFter three hours mixture is FULL of tiny bubbles.

The starter is kept at room temperature 72 F.

Will update and beg for help regularly.

David.