Floating FAQs
Q - Are these sensory deprivation tanks? They look different.
YES! Turn off the lights and the room will be pitch black. Our rooms look different from traditional sensory deprivation tanks, but it is the same experience with a higher ceiling and a little extra space.
Q- Is floating just for new age hippies?
A - Absolutely NOT! The benefits of floating are universal: STRESS RELIEF, improved mental clarity, lower blood pressure, enhanced creativity and decreased pain just to name a few. There are also active research studies looking at the effects of floating on depression, anxiety, PTSD and fibromyalgia. So whether you are into gong meditation or Sunday Night Football floating is for everyone!
Q - What should I wear?
A - Your birthday suit! The float suites are private and equipped with a your own shower. You will go straight from your shower directly into the float room. Bathing suits will create pressure points on the body and be salty and messy after your float.
Q - Is there a maximum or minimum age to float?
A- Anyone under 18 will need parental consent. We require that the parent has floated with us first, has signed the waiver and is present for the duration of the first float (either in floating or in the lobby). There is no maximum age, as long as one is capable of physically stepping in and out of the float room. It is similar to getting in and out of a bathtub at home. The step into our float rooms is 15 inches high.
Q - Can I float if I am pregnant?
A- ABSOLUTELY!! Most pregnant women love to float through their second and third trimester as it relieves joint stress and swelling. If you are having a high risk pregnancy or are concerned, please consult with your physician.
Q - Can two people float in the same room?
A - Yes, Float Quad Cities offers a couples float, which is two people (any relation) floating in the same float room. Many of the benefits of float therapy come from the sensory deprivation aspects of floating alone in your own private space, but we understand that a couples float can be a bonding experience and a great way to introduce float therapy to who are very resistant to floating on their own. If you opt for a couples float, please also consider floating alone at a later date. We have two float rooms, so you can float "together" but separate. Each room is 8' long, 8' tall and 4.5' wide. Please only book one float room for a couples float. You will be touching the other person during your float, and stillness is important - please factor this in!
Q - What if I want to get out?
A - You are in total control of the entire experience. If you want to hop out, the choice is yours. However, most people find that 60 minutes passes quite quickly.
Q - How do you clean the float tanks?
A - The float rooms are filtered continuously when no one is floating. The float solution is filtered a minimum of 3 times between each float cycling 99.9% of the water through our filtration system. The solution passes through a 5 micron filter, UV light chamber and an Ozonator. We also use the hydrogen peroxide and we monitor its residual daily. Our float rooms are cleaner than any public pool facility. Please see our Float Rooms page for more detailed info.
Q - Can I drown if I fall asleep?
A - No, folks fall asleep all the time! The water is so buoyant you continue to float. The worse thing that can happen is getting a little salt water in your eyes.
Q - What if I am claustrophobic?
Our rooms are very spacious and you are always in control. You can leave the lights on and the door open. It is amazing when you close your eyes you feel more like you are floating in space than in a float room. :)
Q - Is there anyone who can't float?
A - We will not allow you to float if you have any of the following conditions:
Infectious skin or respiratory disorders
Open Wounds (ouch!)
Incontinence (self explanatory)
Epilepsy
Serious mental conditions.
Dementia or Alzheimer's
You are under the influence of drugs or alcohol.
Minors without parental consent.
Q - Do I get dehydrated soaking for so long?
No- your skin won't even prune up. You actually absorb magnesium from the epsom salt and your skin will feel silky smooth. Epsom salt is very nourishing for the skin. It is always important to drink water afterward.
Q- Is floating just for women?
Nope! We acknowledge the fact that the spa industry typically targets female clientele, but Float Quad Cities is not a typical spa and we are gender neutral. Here's a fun fact, we actually have more men on our mailing list then women.
Q - What about my hair color, extensions and/or keratin treatment?
It is IMPOSSIBLE to keep your hair from getting wet during a float.
Allow 48 hours after hair coloring. If your hair color has been professionally set, you have already washed it and there is no dye residue washing out you are in the clear to float (unless you have blue and/or pink hair please bring a silicone swim cap or you must wait until your roots have grown out/you are no longer bleeding dye.)
Floating decreases the life of keratin treatments and hair extensions. It is similar to swimming in the ocean. We cannot guarantee hair treatments survive the float.
Silicone clip in hair extensions are OK.
Q - What if I have to go to the bathroom?
Please get out of the float room, give yourself a quick rinse, put on your robe and slippers and travel to the facilities. There is a $1,000 charge for leaving ANYTHING behind in our tanks!
Q - How will I know when my float is over?
When your float is over soft music will begin to play, and the overhead blue light will turn on, 5 minutes later the pumps restart. This is usually enough to bring most people out of their relaxed float state.
Q - Should I workout before or after a float?
We find it is better to get your hard workout in BEFORE your float. Floating reduces muscle tension, neutralizes the spine and helps the body recover more quickly.
Q - How much time do I have to shower after my float?
We have built in shower time so you can enjoy a full 60 minutes in the float tank. We expect you will emerge 10 to 25 minutes after your session has ended. We have mirrors and blow dryers located outside the float rooms so you can finish getting ready outside. This allows us to reset the rooms for the next float sessions. :) If you are unable to exit the float room in a timely manner and we cannot reset the room for the next client we will have to charge you for the next float.
If have/had tubes in my ears or am prone to ear infections can I float?
Yes, we provide ear plugs to help keep the water out of your ears.
Q - Will my vagina burn during my float session?
Check out this blog about floating and your vagina.
Q - Is it OK to Float if I have eczema or psoriasis?
We have had many floaters with eczema and psoriasis. One client told us her float turned her skin from bright red to a dull pink after her first float. Epsom is hydrating for the skin. If Check out this nice article on Floating and Skin Health and this one on Epsom salt baths for softening the skin.
Q - Is there a weight limit?
There is no weight limit per se. We have had clients of all shapes and sizes float. Floating is not the concern, bottoming out in the room is if you are more than 400 pounds please let us know.
Q - What if I have a service dog?
Please let us know before your float if you have a service dog. You are welcome to bring your service dog with you to our facility. We are pet friendly! However, due to the fact that we have motion sensor lights in our float rooms we ask that dogs stay in the lobby with us for the duration of the float.
Q - I am allergic to sulfonamides aka "sulfa" drugs will I be ok in the Float Tank?
Sulfa drugs are a class of antibiotics totally unrelated Magnesium Sulfate (Epsom salt) Our Float Rooms only have 1,100 pounds of Pharmaceutical Grade Magnesium Sulfate, which is completely different. We have had several clients with sulfa allergies float with no complications. Here is a brief article from the Mayo Clinic. When in doubt always check with your physician.
What if I have body jewelry or a ring I cannot take remove?
Gold jewelry such as wedding rings or stainless steel body jewelry will be OK in the float tank. If you have any stones in your jewelry there may be some salt crust left. Anything costume jewelry, mixed alloy, silver, etc. needs to be removed. We are not responsible for any damaged jewelry.
- Thank you to Anicca Float Club in Naperville, IL for this extensive list of questions and answers.