Hi Laura, a 1:1:1 (starter:water:flour, by weight) starter is basically the same type of starter as a 1:5:5 starter (both are fed equal parts by weight of water and flour). The difference is in the relative size of the meal and how quickly the starter is able to consume and ferment it. A 1:5:5 means the starter is getting a larger meal, which it will take a bit longer to process. This type of feeding ratio is especially useful if you happen to live in a warm environment, where fermentation happens faster. Ideally when you are maintaining your starter at room temperature you want your twice daily feedings to line up with when the starter is ripe (at its peak rise, or just beginning to fall). This helps to keep the yeast more vigorous. If your starter routinely falls between feedings this can lead to sluggish yeast behavior. Feeding your starter a relatively larger meal in this way isn't harmful to it and doesn't have to mean using up more flour, since you can reduce the percentage of starter relative to the water/flour amounts. 

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