Container difference

Usually when people ask me what container to use for the sourdough starter, I say it doesn't matter as long as it has straight sides and that I prefer clear containers (I personally like glass). However . . .

Recently I have been using a wider container for my sourdough like the one pictured below. Normally I use a pint sized wide mouth mason jar (this container holds 2 cups as well). I choose to feed my starter when it starts to fall based on a small "high water mark" being visible. What I have found is that the timing when using the two containers is very different. If I want to go 12 hours with the mason jar, I have to feed 1:8:8. For the wider container it is 1:3:3. So basically more than a 1 generation difference.

This makes sense since the narrower jar will have more weight to lift per square inch (cubic inch?) and the wider one is probably falling in the middle before it pulls the edges down. It could also have to do with the fact that the narrower jar keeps the food source in a more concentrated area.

That said, the wide container starter definitely has a stronger smell, and it is probably similar to letting my starter go longer in the mason jar. I will do some experiments to see if this is true. I just thought I would share my experience since I am always recommending feeding based on when the starter starts to fall. If the container makes this much of a difference in the visual cue, then perhaps I need to rethink this a little. I still think waiting until the  starter completely falls is too long, and feeding while still peaked is too soon, but maybe with a narrower container it should fall more than in a wider container (or in a wide container you have to look at the middle more). Hmm.