Starter issues

[benched]

Hi all, I am trying a yeast starter setup for the first time. I have a 2L vessel and a stir plate working away.

I used 200g DME and 1800ml H2O along with a Wyeast #1056. The OG was 1.040. The packet was rocking when I added to the wort. It has been stirring for 40 hours.

My Qs. It is cloudy, orangeish in colour and smells like its working. Should there be a Kraeusen on top? I have the vortex spinning in the middle at a moderate rate. Does this vortex inhibit the forming of a foamy kraeusen?
I expected this to show more potential. Is this normal?
I stopped the stir plate for 2 hours after about 36 hours to see if a kraeusen would form. It did not.
I checked the SG at that time and it was 1.023.
Now, 4 hours later, no kraeusen what so ever.
Is this normal?
I'd like to start a brew but I am unsure if my yeast starter is up to snuff.
I can't handle another failure!

Thanks
M

[spiderwrangler]

Shine a light through it, do you see bubbles rising? If so, stuff is working.

[benched]

Yeah no bubbles...

I put a thermometer on it. It is showing 26C. I guess the garage is too warm to make this happen.

Would it have failed because of this too high of a temperature?

Hmmmm....

m

[Stinkfist]

After 40 hours on a stir plate that thing should be well past completely fermented...so you won't see any foam now...maybe after a few hours you would have,,,,

[kcschmitt]

I rarely have signs of krausen formation when I use a stir plate.

[Stinkfist]

I rarely have signs of krausen formation when I use a stir plate.

I see krausen but it is usually only in the first 6-10 hours..

[EL TIZZO]

I rarely have signs of krausen formation when I use a stir plate.

I see krausen but it is usually only in the first 6-10 hours..

Yeah never more than a small (1/8") layer on top on the second and third day...I would chill and decant and let em rip

Cheers!

[Buttwidget]

Its fine. This won't be the reason your brew failed

Rarely do I get anything other than the very smallest of indicators that the starter is fermenting, unless I look close. After just a few hours you can start seeing tons of little tiny bubbles swirling throughout the flask. That's how you know its working.

The fact that you moved your gravity should tell you that things are working fine.

Chill it, decant it, and pitch it into some nice cool wort. Everything will be fine.

~widget