Thread: Floatation tanks= Amazing!

I just start using one recently; basically these are tanks with water that is heated to body tempature.. and filled with 800lbs of epson salt so that you're body floats right on top.

In complete darkness.. this eleminates external sensory input. So far I haven't been tired enough going in.. but I will post if I have success WILDing in these.

There's some more information at www.floatdreams.com and www.floatation.com

watch out, those things can seriously destroy your mind. expect hallucienations after leaving the floation tank, flashing lights, flashbacks, voices in your head, and loss of sense of reality.

Originally Posted by Dinomut

watch out, those things can seriously destroy your mind. expect hallucienations after leaving the floation tank, flashing lights, flashbacks, voices in your head, and loss of sense of reality.

Well isn't that the point?

I've read about these. They seem very cool, but very expensive.

Hi TalkingHead, do you have one of these at home? Sounds very interesting, keep us posted with your results.

Joe Rogan (fear factor) has some interesting videos on his floatation tank. They are often used to enhance psychadelic experiences. Rogan specifically mentions DMT, a compound that may be released naturally by the brain during dreams. There are allegedly European spas that have commercial floatation tanks. Oh, boy do I want. :yumdumdoodledum:

check it out

Originally Posted by Nightmare

Hi TalkingHead, do you have one of these at home? Sounds very interesting, keep us posted with your results.

I eventually hope to get one at home.. but right now I belong to a little known "float club" in Oakland that allows us to use the tank whenever we want schedule permitting. My car just broke down but I should get back there by Tues or Wed.

I would also recommend "The book of floating" to anyone who is interested as well.

Originally Posted by Dinomut

watch out, those things can seriously destroy your mind. expect hallucienations after leaving the floation tank, flashing lights, flashbacks, voices in your head, and loss of sense of reality.

So far I haven't experienced any of these.. Aside being great L.D. aids.. most people use these because they have so much energy and alertness after using these.

Some of the things you mentioned can happen while in the tank.. but mostly just extreme relaxation and deep focus.

I've read a lot about these and others experience and haven't heard one incidence of this. Did this happen to you?

Originally Posted by Dinomut

watch out, those things can seriously destroy your mind. expect hallucienations after leaving the floation tank, flashing lights, flashbacks, voices in your head, and loss of sense of reality.

Woa relax. No need to fear flotation tanks and the unknown corners of the Mind they can take you too. People fear "The strange and Unknown" as long as recorded history goes back. I would name this Realm "The exotic, hidden features of the Human Psyche" instead, which I find mightily interresting and in need to be explored instead.

Doctor prescribed psycho-active medications like anti-depressants, mood-equalisers, more than anything ( think LSD, Mushrooms, Yopo or Cannabis ) are most likely and capable of inducing these Psychotic Symtoms you mentioned. These type of Psychotic Reactions are very rare in humans and only likely to appear in mentaly instable mindstates to begin with.

With which I'm telling you there's certainly no need to fear a Floatation tank unless you're rather schizoid to begin with.

I was thinking of just building one myself. Maybe an isolated stone structure with a large metal or plastic bathtub/container filled with Sea Salt-ed Water?
You could hang a thermometer in there and if it's properly isolated it will contain all heat and release/leak none and you could go in there and preheat the tank with a gas-lamp for a minute till the temperature reaches 37 degrees celcius.

Isn't this like sensory deprivation? Doesn't sensory deprivation basicly FUCK YOUR MIND?

I asked this in another thread,do you ever feel like your mind regresses like
in the movie 'altered states'?..or is there a progression of ideas,and new
worlds?Please explain what it's like.The main character in that movie(while
fantasy) went mad in more ways then one.If you happen to turn into a cave
man,please post a pic!seriously,it does sound interesting!

Originally Posted by polarisdreamtime

I asked this in another thread,do you ever feel like your mind regresses like
in the movie 'altered states'?..or is there a progression of ideas,and new
worlds?Please explain what it's like.The main character in that movie(while
fantasy) went mad in more ways then one.If you happen to turn into a cave
man,please post a pic!seriously,it does sound interesting!

HAHA.. I've heard about that movie. I just added it to netflix. It definitely takes you to the deeper parts of your mind; but this isn't the case after you come out so I wouldn't call it regression- It does connect the various parts of your mind though.

Originally Posted by polarisdreamtime

I asked this in another thread,do you ever feel like your mind regresses like
in the movie 'altered states'?

No, at least I never felt that way, as the only thing I ever experienced was an eerie silence and the beating of my heart.

As for the possibility of drowning, anything is possible because someone can drown in their own bathtub, but since the water is only 10 inches deep and has epsom salts in it which makes a person float, the chances of drowning in a floatation tank would probably be less than drowning in a bathtub.

That's why I was able to sleep in mine for 2 years without any problems.

My step father had a buddy who had a creepy experiance in one of those. He was thrown bye an unknown force way into the sky and a voice said "so you wanna fuck around" pushed his body down to earth and next to his living body!

The Simpsons 1016 Make Room for Lisa

Never done it. Would be fun if I had the money/time/location. Still, hallucinating really just isn't on my list of things to do

I've seen some outlandish claims about floatation tanks by people that have never done it before. Hallucinations? Hallucinations after the float? Never. Dream visions like the ones gained from meditation or relaxation or WILD, yes.

It ain't drugs. It's like meditation. Advanced bathing. With the lights off. Nothing to be scared of. You can't be scared of a really good waterbed. The tank I float in has lights and underwater speakers you turn on and off yourself.

There is something weird about it, aliens and mad scientists or something. The movie Altered States doesn't help. I assure you, it's a perfectly benign thing to try. It's a great creative tool for me.

ya know guys, you're not supposed to sleep in these tanks, that ruins the whole point of using them lol..

The idea is to have the senses taken away, so the mind can wander....if you look up the greek meaning to hallucination it means 'to wander in mind'

So, the point is the stay conscious and to let your mind wander, you will see things...feel things...hear things and from what I understand the use of cannabis prior to the tank REALLY helps propel visions and sounds.

I really don't recommend sleeping in those things, defeats the purpose and you will wakeup with mushy skin from being submerged too long. Plus, I think epson salt isn't really great for your hair if you sleep in that thing.


I wish I had a sens. dep. tank...I would practically spend all my time in there during the day because day to day life is such a boring repetitive drag.

Yikes. Sounds dangerous.

Do you actually fall asleep in these?

Ever since watching Homer's experience in one of these things on The Simpsons, I've made myself a promise to stay away from them.

Originally Posted by ExoByte

Ever since watching Homer's experience in one of these things on The Simpsons, I've made myself a promise to stay away from them.

Whoa I don't remember that episode! Is it a new one?

I don't quite understand what these tanks are. So, you just float in some water? I'm too lazy to read up on this...

That sounds suspiciously like some sort of torture device.
I'd give it a try though. Sounds like quite the experience.

Originally Posted by Mes Tarrant

Whoa I don't remember that episode! Is it a new one?

Nope! "Make Room for Lisa" is the name of the episode. Season 10, Episode 16

(Horray for IMDB)

Season 10, Episode 16: Make Room for Lisa

Original Air Date: 28 February 1999
When Homer installs a cell phone tower on his roof to pay for his destruction of the Bill Of Rights, the machinery is put in Lisa's room, forcing her to move in with Bart. When the new living arrangement causes her stress, Homer agrees to try sensory deprivation therapy with her.

Originally Posted by Mes Tarrant

I don't quite understand what these tanks are. So, you just float in some water? I'm too lazy to read up on this...

You float in water, so you feel no pressure on you. You wear some kind of earplugs so there's no audio. It's in darkness, so there's no visual.

It's like it takes the sensory world away from you.

I wonder how near sensory deprivation is to death...?

Speaking of death, if I became too relaxed I'd inevitably roll over off of my back, face in the water. No matter what position I begin sleeping in, I end up stomach-down before I wake. I just hope I'd stay awake/aware enough to remember I'm in a flotation tank!

Sounds dangerous D:. If it works for you though good for you

I would put my life over lucid dreaming.