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What IS a float tank, anyway?

If you’re first approaching the idea of a business in the float industry, the best place to get started is to understand what a float tank is, how they work, and what initial concerns there are with offering floating from a business standpoint. So, we wanted to share this article adapted from our About Float Tanks Primer, a free introductory resource we have available that covers the basics of the float industry.

If you’re wanting more information after reading through what we’ve shared here, you can download the full About Float Tanks Primer here for free, and learn more about the history of the industry, and the research into how floating benefits our bodies and minds.

So…what is a float tank, anyway? Let’s kick things off with a simple dictionary definition:

Float Tank
(a.k.a. Flotation Tank, Float Room/Pod/Spa/Chamber, Isolation Tank, Sensory Deprivation Tank, Flotation REST, Flotation Therapy)

A tub that contains a saturated solution of Epsom salt, provides a light and sound reduced environment, and is kept at skin temperature. This environment allows a person to float effortlessly without external stimuli. They are used for many purposes, including meditation, consciousness exploration, relaxation, and physical therapy.

Simple enough, right? Now keep reading for a deeper dive into that definition, and how & why float tanks can be such a benefit to those who use them.

Introductions to a Salty Practice

Float tanks are like a perfect bathtub. They vary in size, but the typical tank is 8 feet long and 5 feet wide, roughly the dimensions of a queen-size mattress. Air is allowed to freely flow in and out, and the door never locks or latches.

Reduced Gravity

Float tanks hold about a foot of water, which is saturated with roughly 1000 lbs. of Epsom salt. This creates a solution with a density comparable to the dead sea, allowing a person to float on the surface about half-in and half-out of the solution.

 

Neutral Temperature

The temperature of the solution is kept at approximately 93-95°F / 34-35°C, the average external temperature of the human body. This is a temperature known as skin-receptor neutral, meaning the user loses track of where their skin ends and the solution begins.

 

Light and Sound Reduced

The tanks and the rooms around them are insulated against sound and, when you turn off the light, completely dark.

So What?

The inside of a float tank is an environment unlike any other found on Earth. In its purest form, it is detached/divorced from light, sound, temperature, and the perception of gravity. Devices like these were initially built in the 1950’s to help scientists understand the nature of consciousness. Researchers were initially worried that depriving the brain of all sensation could cause serious trauma, but the reality couldn’t be further from the truth.

Much like the inadvertent discovery of penicillin, the favorable effects caused by these “sensory deprivation tanks” were a total surprise. Instead of fear and anxiety in isolation, most people experienced deep relaxation, with physical and mental benefits that continue well beyond the flotation experience.

Studies on flotation have been overwhelmingly positive, and more benefits are still being uncovered through modern research. It’s a practice that bridges spirituality and physical wellness, consciousness and therapy. More people float for the first time every day as the practice shifts ever further into the mainstream.

Types of Float Tanks

The chambers used for flotation vary in many ways, with a host of different descriptors and features associated with them. The most common in the industry today are “tanks”, “pods”, “cabins”, and “rooms.” There aren’t hard and fast rules on the definitions, and the names are used interchangeably throughout the industry depending on preference (in this guide, for example, “float tank” is treated as a universal term). However, here is a rough breakdown on what people mean when using the common nomenclatures:

Tanks frequently have a boxy design and a hatch-style door.

Rooms are typically completely open and often constructed into the building itself.

Pods are usually egg-shaped and have a clamshell or half-clamshell style door.

Cabins are commonly taller, enclosed systems that allow entry fully upright.

Some units come with internal liners while others have tubs made with fiberglass or other non-porous materials.

Float tanks, regardless of style, vary in size, with some large enough for dual occupancy (or “couples”) floating.

All of them have a heating system for the water and either active ventilation (with a fan) or passive ventilation (with convection currents).

Most – not all – come with lights and internal sound systems for comfort and to gently notify users when their session has ended.

If you’re wanting more information on specific brands and models of float tank, consider downloading the Float Tank Comparison Guide, another free resource we offer which offers a side-by-side comparison environment for the major brands and models of float tank out there.

Basics for Float Business Owners

Building a commercial float center isn’t as simple as throwing float tanks into rooms and charging admission. There’s a lot of specialized construction required to offer a good float (such as soundproofing, lightproofing, and temperature control), and the hyper-salinity of the float tank water is so caustic that, over time, it erodes many common building materials. If a float center isn’t carefully designed, it can require expensive repairs for water & salt damage, as well as costly upgrades to bring the construction back up to adequate levels.

Water & Epsom Salt Damage

When the magnesium sulfate solution (a.k.a Epsom salt) comes in contact with common building materials (such as concrete or wood), it can create a chemical reaction that rapidly breaks down otherwise resilient structures. With materials that are even slightly porous, it allows for the salt solution to seep in and destroy the materials from the inside out, causing further damage.

As a result, float centers need to be designed with non-porous materials for the floors and walls that are more regularly found in laboratory or industrial settings). This kind of salt- and waterproofing is essential, but with an appropriate buildout, issues with salt and water damage are negligible.

Light & Sound Proofing

Contrary to what you might think, the vast majority of float tanks are not manufactured to be soundproof or lightproof, and instead require float businesses to invest in these features for their room design.

Soundproofing, especially, can be an expensive endeavor involving complicated construction and high-end products. As a result, proper waterproofing is even more important, since it will prevent damage to these costly materials.

Lightproofing is a fairly simple process; however, if care is not taken there can be light bleeds that are noticeable in an otherwise completely dark environment, such as inside a float tank.

25-30% salt by volume

Most float tanks require roughly 1000 lbs of Epsom salt (magnesium sulfate) to be effective. Operators use hydrometers to measure and calculate the specific gravity, which is typically kept at 1.25-1.30, allowing anyone to float on the surface of the water.

At 94°F (34.3° C), a magnesium sulfate solution reaches its saturation point not far above a specific gravity of 1.3. This means that any more salt will refuse to dissolve into the solution and will instead gather in clumps at the bottom or float in crystalline form on the surface. For comparison, the ocean is 1.03 specific gravity, making float tanks roughly 30% denser than ocean water.

Common Customer Concerns

Is the water clean?

Floating has been around commercially for over 40 years, and as of 2016 there are over 1,000,000 floats run every year in North America. Even with such a large sample size, there has never been a reported case of illness linked to float tank use.

Commercial float tanks use a rigorous water treatment and filtration process, typically employing either UV+H2O2, UV+ozone, or chlorine/bromine. Float centers have procedures for cleaning float rooms, as well as doing regular maintenance on the equipment. As for the tanks themselves, float systems either drain, filter, and refill the salt solution or recirculate the volume of the solution 3-5 times between users.

The salt itself also makes the solution a hostile environment for most micro-organisms, and studies have shown that common pathogens don’t seem to thrive in the solution, with many naturally lowering over time.

In addition, users don’t interact with the solution as they would with the water in a pool or hot tub. As a result, floating itself is a very low-risk activity: there is a very predictable bather load, people shower before and after each float, children don’t normally use float tanks, and, perhaps most importantly, users don’t swallow the solution, eliminating a very large source of aquatic health risk.

For more detailed advice on keeping your float tank solution clean and sanitary, such as testing equipment, procedures, and advice, check out our FREE Intro to Float Water Treatment video series, or read through this blog article: Testing and Maintaining Float Tank Water Quality

I’m scared of small spaces…

A major reservation first time float tank users have is claustrophobia. Many people are worried that they may experience a fear of float tanks since they are an enclosed space.

The simple fact, though, is that users have complete control of their environment, including the lights and how much the door is open. This means that despite floating in a relatively small space, it doesn’t trigger the anxiety of claustrophobia. In fact, even diagnosed claustrophobics with debilitating symptoms have been able to float in single occupancy tanks without any fear.

I couldn’t do nothing for so long!

One of the most common responses from first time floaters is a disbelief at how quickly the time seemed to pass. Many people end up feeling that a 90 minute float only lasts for 30-45 minutes, or shorter.

Without sensory input, the brain loses track of its time keeping ability, something that otherwise feels like a constant. This happens to first time and veteran float tank users alike. Even after a few minutes in a sensory reduced environment, it can be difficult to tell how much time has passed.

Time dilation is actually fairly common in everyday life, like when waiting in line at the bank, reading a book, or during REM sleep. Given that similar brain centers activate during flotation, it’s not unexpected that a strong sense of timelessness is associated with floating.

Next Steps for Researching the Float Industry

If you’re wanting to learn more about the industry, and what it takes to start a float business or add floating to your existing wellness practice, then you’ve come to the right place.

Check out out selection of free resources, which offer our best bundles of information on the float industry, covering important preliminary topics such costs, timelines, regulatory concerns, and much more.

We also have an extensive blog archive and podcast library which address particular topics and concerns, do a search for any keywords and you’ll likely find an article or three offering some valuable insights.

If you have any specific questions or might want to chat a bit about your plans, don’t hesitate to reach out! We’re here to help (and happy to do so anytime!) – you can reach us anytime at info@floattanksolutions.com.

How to reach out to wellness professionals – DSP 73

How to reach out to wellness professionals – DSP 73

Getting together with other wellness businesses seems like a slam dunk for float centers. Or at least it should be. Floating seems to have a special sort of synergy with things like yoga, massage, acupuncture, or what have you, but that doesn’t always mean that other wellness practitioners are going to be your greatest advocates. How do you turn that acupuncturist across the street into your biggest advocate?

Graham and Ashkahn have tried it all and worked closely with tons of businesses in joint marketing ventures as well as referral programs. They share what has worked best for them, and some of the surprises they’ve found with stuff they thought would work that just totally didn’t. 

How to reach out to wellness professionals – DSP 73

How do you prioritize what to work on in your center? – DSP 72

It’s human nature to suck at planning. we can’t help having inefficient mental systems for establishing the importance of a project when we’re working on it. This problem can be especially bad for float centers too, given that certain projects, if not addressed quickly, can dramatically become exponentially worse, like with salt damage. 

Graham and Ashkahn face these exact same problems when they undertake any project, but still manage to find ways to be productive. In this episode, they share some of their tips as well as personal philosophies on work. Plus, Ashkahn’s strong desire to have a waterslide.

How to reach out to wellness professionals – DSP 73

What do you put in your email newsletter? – DSP 71

If you’re running a float center, you definitely have a newsletter. Right? If you don’t, then you should. Most businesses these days have them. Establishing a newsletter can be a daunting undertaking if you’re unfamiliar with the process. What goes in a newsletter? How frequent is too frequent to send it out? Who are you sending it to? 

Graham and Ashkahn dole out some wisdom on the importance of this correspondence method. Give it a listen. 

How to reach out to wellness professionals – DSP 73

Benefits of having an intercom in float tank – DSP 70

There’s a lot of debate about intercom systems within float tanks. For some, it seems like a natural progression for the design, and for others it can feel like something that potentially negatively impacts a float. 

On the one hand, Intercom systems have a lot of utility (especially in the CYA sense). Inversely, it does seem like something that can easily be abused by customers.

Ashkahn and Graham hash out the pros and cons to these systems and exactly how they feel about them in this episode. 

How to reach out to wellness professionals – DSP 73

Having a Laundry Service vs. DIY Laundry – DSP 69

Laundry is a fundamental necessity for float centers, the significance of which you can easily overlook. Some centers do laundry on-site, while others hire out a laundry service. On-site is almost definitely cheaper, but is it worth it? How much does it factor in to your bottom line to hire a laundry service, and what about the drawbacks of doing it on site? Not every float center can afford an industrial washer and dryer, can residential units handle a float center’s salt encrusted towels? 

Graham and Ashkahn hit all these points and more while talking about their own personal experience doing both on-site laundry and hiring out a service and which one they definitively think is better and why/ 

How to reach out to wellness professionals – DSP 73

Pros/Cons of Having a Post Float Lounge – DSP 68

Post float lounges are cool. Lots of float center owners use them to imbue their centers with their own personality, whether it be large sprawling rooms with comically large furniture, oxygen bars with artificial waterfalls, or just a place for you to hide mushroom sculptures for your customers to find. But these come at the cost of square footage for your center, which undoubtedly can cause problems. So, is it worth it? Ashkahn and Graham tackle the pros and cons, getting into the finer details of what it really means to have or not have these rooms in your center.

How to reach out to wellness professionals – DSP 73

The typical Length of a Float Transition – DSP 67

A fundamental part of a float centers daily schedule is the transition between floats. It’s when the rooms get cleaned, the water runs through its filtration system, floaters need to shower, linens need changing out… So how long do you need to get all of this done? Naturally, the shorter it is, the more floats you can run in a day, but how close to the wire can you cut it? 

Graham and Ashkahn lay out very clearly exactly why they do what they do at Float On for transitions and help illustrate some of the benefits and major hurdles they have had to overcome to get to this sweet spot in their scheduling. 

How to reach out to wellness professionals – DSP 73

When it’s time to fire an employee – DSP 65

Terminating an employee isn’t an easy thing to do. How do you know when to have that conversation? Obviously you don’t want to come off too strongly, but there also has to be a line somewhere. Graham and Ashkahn attempt to explain where the line is at for them and their personal philosophy on the subject.