How much salt is in a float tank?
Short answer
Each of our tanks holds 900 pounds of Epsom salt dissolved into about eleven inches of water. That concentration is higher than the Dead Sea and is what makes the water dense enough for you to float on the surface without any effort.
What that concentration does
At that density the solution is heavier than you are, so your body rises to the top rather than sinking. This is why floating works identically for every body — the salt is doing all of it.
What it feels like on skin
The water feels silky rather than slippery. Any small cut or scratch will sting, which is why a protective ointment is provided in the suite to seal them before you get in.
Good to know
- Avoid shaving in the twelve hours before your float — the salt can irritate freshly shaved skin.
- Use the barrier ointment in the suite on any small nicks before you get in.