I need help. I feel like I should just quit and start over. This starter is 16 days old. I was feeding 1:1:1 and it was doing good almost doubling so I started to feed it 1:2:2 twice a day. I think I diluted my yeast population. So I went back to 1:1:1 every 24 hours, but it's just jot doing much. There a little bubbles, but I'm not sure if those are from when I stir it after I feed.
Should I just start over?
Keep feeding it as needed. Give it time to mature.
You're way ahead of where you'd be by starting over.
I just gave it a good stir this evening and I don't see any bubbles now...
It wouldn't hurt to start another - but - a different method may be better. Make it thick - whenever it turns to water (pretty close) - repeat. It'll go slow - then get faster as it builds. Plan on a few weeks if your lucky. Whatever the case - it never hurts to have another. Any extra can be tossed. Enjoy!
I never got a good wheat flour starter going, but these instructions for a rye starter worked fine. The starter is fine with a weekly feeding, 12 hrs before mixing the sponge. I've been away for 5 weeks at a time - when I get home, I do 2 or 3 feedings out of the fridge and the starter comes back nicely.
Build and Maintain a Rye Starter - The Rye Baker
People with a better palate than mine might taste the difference between a rye and a wheat starter in a wheat bread, but you might like the taste.