Hi Chris, it sounds like your starter has just drifted to a thinner consistency without the benefit of a scale, and the liquid on top is a sign that you need to feed it more often. None of these are signs that you need to start over, but it will be helpful to pay closer attention to your feeding routine for a few days.

If you were feeding your starter equal parts by weight of water and flour this is considered an 100% hydration liquid starter, which is the type of starter generally used in our recipes. This is the recommended maintenance routine for this type of starter. If you no longer have a scale, a typical feeding would look like: 1/2 cup (113g) starter + 1/2 cup (113g) water + 1 scant cup (113g) unbleached all-purpose flour. The consistency right after feeding should be like a thick but easily stirrable paste. As the starter bubbles and ferments it doubles in size and becomes more like a thick pancake batter, with bubbles throughout. If allowed to fall completely the starter will return to the level it was right after feeding, but will be thinner in consistency, with perhaps some frothy bubbles on top. If neglected too long, the starter will develop liquid on top. 

To get your starter nice and lively again I would recommend feeding twice a day according to the feeding routine linked above. Try to feed your starter when it's at its peak of rising, or just beginning to fall, which will keep yeast activity vigorous. Allowing the starter to fall significantly between feedings tends to lead to sluggish yeast behavior. 

I hope this helps! Let us know how it goes. 

Barb

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