My starter is about 3 weeks old, but has only been active for about 10 days. It has been on 12 hour feedings, unbleached AP, 1:1:1, 72° - 77° f. It seems to be doing very well.

A few days ago I was going to be away for an unknown length of time, noticed that my starter had peaked (~120% increase at about 5 hours) & decided to stir it down. When I got home about 8 hours later, it was peaked but not collapsed @ almost 400% increase.

I decided to do a little experiment: started with 150 ml starter. Peaked @ 350 ml after 4.5 hours; stirred it down. Peaked @ 550 ml after 4 hours; stirred it down. It doubled in an hour, & had not quite peaked @ 450 ml after 4 hours, which was feeding time (& bedtime for me).

It seems like stirring it down after it peaks makes it even more active - I am guessing this is because the much larger population of microflora is being exposed to new food by the stirring, or something along those lines (did I guess right? does anyone know?).

My question: since all the advice is to use the starter when it's at its most active, wouldn't it make sense to stir it down & use it at its second peak? 

thanks!