Not to be argumentative, but who is debating the toxicity of GS? I've been skipping the silicone coating and pressing the coco fibers directly onto the wet GS with good results. It's true that you do have to coat the inside of the glass with silicone, but the price alone of GS makes it worthwhile for me. I can get 2 cans of GS from Lowe's for $5.50, which will cover 6-8 vert 10s, whereas I'd be spending $30 or more for the same result with black pond foam. I'm sure it's a fine product, but for a newcomer on a budget, it might not be the best solution. BTW, sorry to hijack the post Jared!