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created a "Starter Information" section
===Manufacturer Tips===
====[[Bootleg Biology]] on Sour Weapon====
Jeff reported good growth results using 2 grams of calcium carbonate (chalk; CaCO3) per liter of wort for starters of Sour Weapon <refname="mello_starter">[https://www.facebook.com/groups/MilkTheFunk/permalink/1369904163037794/?comment_id=1370329352995275&reply_comment_id=1370751796286364&comment_tracking=%7B%22tn%22%3A%22R5%22%7D Conversation on MTF with Jeff Mello regarding starters for Pediococcus. 08/08/2016.]</ref>. This same formula might benefit other ''Pediococcus'' starters as well. The CaCO3 serves as a buffering agent that keeps the starter pH from getting too low too fast, and is similar to the concept of buffered growth media for ''Lactobacillus'' (see [[Lactobacillus#Samuel_Aeschlimann.27s_Starter_Procedures|''Lactobacillus'' Starter]]).
Regarding exposure to oxygen in general:
Although more experiments are probably needed, agitation is believed to be an important factor for any species of microbe (yeast and bacteria). Gentle stirring on a stir plate or orbital shaker, or frequent gentle manual agitation leads to faster growth and a higher number of organisms. Agitation keeps the microbes in solution. It also maximizes the microbes' access to nutrients and disperses waste evenly. In a non-agitated starter, the microbes are limited to the diffusion rate of nutrients, leading to a slower and more stressful growth <ref>[https://www.facebook.com/groups/MilkTheFunk/permalink/1168024059892473/?comment_id=1174865305875015&reply_comment_id=1176092372418975&total_comments=1&comment_tracking=%7B%22tn%22%3A%22R9%22%7D Conversation with Bryan of Sui Generis Blog about starters and agitation. 11/09/2015.]</ref>. Although ''Pediococcus'' are generally considered facultative anaerobes and oxygen usually does not negatively affect their growth, some strains may show less growth in the presence of oxygen and are considered anaerophilic, meaning that the presence of oxygen inhibits their growth (and therefore their acid production) but they can still grow in the presence of O2. The presence of CO2 has a positive effect on acid production <ref name="NAKAGAWA"></ref> . Therefore, it is generally best practice to seal the starter with an airlock.
====Starter Information====
General starter information for commercial ''Pediococcus'' cultures is limited. In addition to the various [[Pediococcus#Manufacturer_Tips|starter suggestions by various labs]] regarding their individual cultures, Jeff Mello of Bootleg Biology reported good growth results when using 2 grams of calcium carbonate (chalk; CaCO3) per liter of wort for starters of Sour Weapon <ref name="mello_starter"></ref>. This same formula might benefit other ''Pediococcus'' starters as well. The CaCO3 serves as a buffering agent that keeps the starter pH from getting too low too fast, and is similar to the concept of buffered growth media for ''Lactobacillus'' (see [[Lactobacillus#Samuel_Aeschlimann.27s_Starter_Procedures|''Lactobacillus'' Starter]]).
==="Ropy" or "Sick" Beer===