After 38 batches pitched with your basic starter and aerated with an aquarium pump I made the big leap to a stir plate and also using pure 02.
Holy F*#@!,....... the BN Forum does not lie!
After pitching the starter that was on a stir plate for 36 hours, the lag time was bit longer than usual, maybe 10-12 hours, so I was a bit nervous as I was not able to tell if there was any activity in the starter wort or not as I also ditched using an airlock and used sanitized foil instead.
Once activity started, not only did the brew finish in half the time it normally takes, it finished 4-5 points lower as well. 1.071 to 1.011 which is just fine afor an IPA.
Thanks for all the great info and sorry it took so long to get through my thick skull.
Hopefully this will encourage others to do the same if they can scare up the cash, this was a great investment.
Cheers.
Fritz
