Float Tank Myths Busted: Separating Science from Saltwater Folklore

You’ve probably heard the whispers: “I’d feel trapped in there,” “Isn’t that just a fancy detox bath?”, or the ever‑popular, “Two hours of floating is like a full night’s sleep.” In our float center, we’ve heard every tall tale imaginable, and today we’re taking a look at seven of the most persistent myths, separating fact from fiction.

Myth #1

Floating causes hallucinations – you’ll see crazy visions like taking psychedelics.

PARTLY TRUE
Pop culture loves a good sensory‑deprivation freak‑out, but the reality is in fact much gentler. Most floaters experience mild hypnagogic imagery: soft colors, the occasional daydream, or a sense of drifting through space. Think “a screensaver for the mind,” not a full‑blown psychedelic trip. If a vivid image does pop up, it often doesn’t linger for very long. That said, some people experience stronger mental imagery than others inside the float tank, and experiences can vary wildly between sessions, even for the same person. There have certainly been countless reports of full-blown visual hallucinations and lucid dream-like experiences in the float tank – they just aren’t the norm.

Myth #2

Floating is likely to make you feel claustrophobic.

FALSE
It’s well documented that almost everyone, even people who actually have claustrophobia, doesn’t have any problem being in a float tank. The doors don’t latch, much less lock, and claustrophobia is more about being in control than it is about small spaces. In a float tank, you’re always in total control: you can crack the door, keep a soft light on, or float with the lid fully open. In fact, once the lights are out, your brain quickly loses its usual “room‑size” cues, and most people feel as if the space has expanded, not shrunk.

Tip for Your Float: It’s normal to be nervous when you’re going in for your first float (although, of course, this is more commonly a sense of excitement and anticipation). If you’re feeling nervous, consider easing in with a gradual progression. You can start with the lid open and the lights on. You don’t even have to lay down in the water. When you do feel comfortable, turn off the light and leave the lid open. And, if you feel like it at some point, you can even close the lid. If you can close your eyes in the shower, you can float peacefully in a tank.

Myth #3

Floating pulls toxins out of your body.

FALSE
We love Epsom salt – 10 inches of epsom salt saturated solution keep you buoyant and relaxed in our float tanks – but it isn’t a magical vacuum for heavy metals or mystery “toxins.” Your liver, kidneys, and lymphatic system already handle detoxification like champs, and there isn’t any evidence we’re aware of that floating in magnesium sulfate water sucks “toxins” out of your body. What floating does offer is a profound reset for your nervous system: lower stress hormones, calmer breathing, and muscles that finally unclench. Think of the tank as a spa for your mind and an off‑switch for your fight‑or‑flight response, not a detox footbath for your entire body.

Tip for Your Float: Hydrate before and after your session, just as you would for a massage or sauna. Your natural detox pathways will thank you.

Myth #4

Most evidence for floating is anecdotal – there’s no real science to back it up.

FALSE
Floatation REST or Floatation Therapy (the main research terms) has over four decades of peer‑reviewed studies behind it. Recent randomized trials funded by the NIH show significant drops in anxiety, muscle tension, and pain – even after a single float. Neuroscientists have documented lower cortisol, shifts into delta and theta brainwaves (the same waves linked to deep meditation), and improvements in sleep quality that last days. The science isn’t finished, but it’s far from folklore. In fact, universities and VA hospitals are actively studying floating for PTSD, burnout, eating disorders, addiction recovery, and more.

If you’re curious to learn more about the science of floating, the largest collection of peer reviewed float studies and presentations on the research are up at https://www.clinicalfloat.org/ .

Myth #5

One hour in a float tank is equivalent to 4 hours of sleep.

FALSE
Controlled trials report sharp drops in cortisol and significant boosts in perceived energy and mood after a single 60‑minute float, but the researchers never equate that boost to a specific number of sleep hours. In a float you enter a low‑stimulus state that resembles the earliest stages of sleep, but you don’t cycle through the full progression of NREM and REM that your brain needs for memory consolidation, immune regulation, and hormone release. No peer‑reviewed study shows a float substituting for those later stages.

This myth likely originated from a line in The Book of Floating, by Michael Hutchison, or from earlier comments by Dr. John Lilly, but these should be interpreted as subjective perceptions of the float experience, rather than scientifically backed claims.

Myth #6

You can’t float if you have tattoos – the salt will affect the ink.

PARTLY TRUE
If you’ve got fresh ink, put the tank on pause – saltwater can irritate healing skin and pull pigment from an open wound. Once your tattoo is fully healed (no scabs, no shine, typically 2–6 weeks), floating is totally fine. In fact, we’ve heard from many tattoo artists (with plenty of work themselves) who swear by floats for sore shoulders and back pain. The salt won’t strip color from a settled tattoo, and it turns out that the magnesium‑rich soak feels fantastic after a long day of standing at a studio chair.

Myth #7

Your fingers don’t prune in there.

TRUE (surprisingly)
Wrinkled fingertips happen in fresh water, when water moves into your skin. The full mechanisms at work with this pruning effect are still not fully understood, but what we do know is that in a float tank, the salt concentration is so high that it doesn’t have the same exchange of water. This leaves your skin completely smooth (and feeling soft from the epsom salt), even after 90+ minutes.

Final Thoughts

Myths are persistent, but so is good information. Whether you’re a nervous first‑timer or a seasoned floater arming yourself for the next round of questions from friends, we hope this helps you better navigate some of the pervasive myths around floating.

Ready to put the legends to rest? Book your next float and see what your next float holds in store for yourself. At the very least, your body – and your curiosity – will thank you.