Sensory Deprivation Float Tank

The Build

This is the personal project I am most excited about. A sensory deprivation float tank, built from scratch in my garage.

The tank is a plywood and fiberglass shell, insulated and heated to skin temperature (93.5F). Inside: 10 inches of water saturated with 800 pounds of Epsom salt, dense enough to float effortlessly.

The Brains

A Raspberry Pi runs a custom Python control system managing the heater, filtration pump, UV sanitizer, and interior lighting on timed cycles. Temperature is held within half a degree using a PID loop and waterproof DS18B20 sensors.

The Mechanics

The mechanical side includes a small circulation pump, a pool-style cartridge filter, and a UV-C sterilizer. The heating element is a standard hot water heater element wired through a relay controlled by the Pi.

The Interface

I built a web interface with Flask so I could monitor and control everything from my phone: start a session, check water temp, see filtration status, and review logs.

What I Learned

The whole thing worked. I used it regularly for about a year. Building it taught me more about PID control, waterproofing electronics, and working with fiberglass than any class could.