Hi June, I've heard of the float test as a way of checking to see that your sourdough starter is ripe and ready to add to a recipe after having been fed, but not as a way of checking to see if a newly created starter is mature. My only concern is that during the early days of developing a starter, bacteria that creates carbon dioxide can cause the starter to rise (and quite possibly float), even though wild yeast activity hasn't yet occurred. Be sure to feed your starer at least through day 6, before using the float test. Feeding it twice daily through day 8 or 9 will assure that the starter develops full strength and a more complex flavor profile. Barb

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