Isolation Tank - Tank Design and Usage

Tank Design and Usage

The original float tanks involved being entirely submerged in the tank, and people were required to wear complicated head-masks to breathe, and uncomfortable tight clothing that constricted the blood flow in certain areas. Many users claimed that the mask and clothing detracted from the isolation experience by creating uncomfortable physical conditions, and that being entirely submerged in water led to the fear of drowning. The tight fit of the mask seal around the face and the retention strips wrapping around the back of the head were uncomfortable in long sessions. The constant hissing of the air valves and bubbling of exhaust air out of the mask prevented the possibility of silence. The faceplate of the mask was typically solid black for visual isolation, but then the tank user needed help entering and leaving the isolation tank since the mask blinded them. The tight neoprene clothing was extremely uncomfortable in sensitive areas such as the genitalia, and constricted blood flow and mobility in other areas.

In current tanks, a solution of epsom salt is used for an increased density. The subject can now float with the face above the water, although the ears are still submerged when the subject is in a relaxed position. Hearing is therefore greatly reduced, particularly when using ear-plugs as protection against the salt water. When the arms float to the side, skin sensation is greatly reduced because the air and water are the same temperature as the skin, and the feeling of a body boundary fades. The sense of smell is also greatly reduced, especially if the water has not been treated with chlorine.

The growing number of commercial float tanks has brought increased regulation of disinfection. In the US different states have implemented different rules. In Europe, the DIN 19643 bathing water standard requires automated chlorination controlled by REDOX (ORP) measurement. Chlorine, bromine and peroxide disinfection have all been used successfully. There is doubt about ozone safety because of the closed air space. For this reason, H2O2 is cited by many industry professionals as a safer and more desirable sanitation agent.

Generally, users of isolation tanks enter the pool nude. The elastic material of a tight-fitting swimsuit can create uncomfortable compressed stress points on the skin during the session. Due to the high salt content, the water is rarely changed, and all users are expected to shower, wash with soap, and rinse clean prior to entering the tank to avoid getting oils from their skin into the tank. Bathing is again needed after a session to remove excess epsom salt from the skin, and white vinegar is often used to remove excess salt from the ear canal and hair.

Most isolation tanks use a surface skimmer, cartridge filtration, and disinfection means, including ultraviolet sterilization and chemicals to keep the water free of microbes and sediment. These machines are usually turned off during a session to keep the isolation space as quiet as possible. A ring heating system can be used around the outer walls of the tank so that warm water rises around the edges of the pool, travels towards the center, and then sinks under the tank user. This very slow water convection flow helps to keep the user centered in the middle of the pool. The small waves caused by breathing also aid in centering the subject.

Isolation tank construction and plumbing is typically all plastic. Typically glass reinforced resins are used. High quality flotation tanks may use acrylic or medical stainless steel which is impervious to the strong salt solution and more importantly the disinfectants. Epsom salt is not corrosive in the way sodium chloride is, but unsealed stone and concrete surfaces outside the tank can be damaged by splashed or dripped salt water as the recrystallizing salt opens up cracks and fissures as it dries. Chlorine used as a disinfectant can attack some surfaces such as marble.

It is useful to have a shower stall in the same room as the tank. Before a session, the tank user can transfer directly from the shower to the tank without drying off, which helps prevent oil from the float tank user's skin from entering the water. Following the session, they can immediately rinse off which minimizes the dripping of corrosive salt through the building.

Having plumbing facilities immediately next to the tank is also helpful when the water must eventually be changed to prevent microbe growth. The plumbing, including the drain pipes, should be constructed of plastic to prevent deterioration from the salt. The salt concentration may need to be diluted when discarded, to prevent damage to small private wastewater plumbing systems.

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