Why do they call it live if its dry?

Ocean Direct is live sand and does have moisture in it, at least it should or your bag got dried out.

or enough die off to build a bacteria population....of which i think neither is needed lol

because its not dry its " moist " enough to keep the bacteria alive and produce organics that feul your cycle.

Oh man this is confuseing bahah im used to just buying silica sand, washing it well and puttin it in baha live. Dry. Wet. Blahblahblah is confuseing me baha

I get it sorta now.. Is thatbwhy theres a little packet of something in it? To keep it "moist"

Sea sand is probably a lot finer than anything you've encountered in your freshwater experiences ... so keep your powerheads off long enough for the sand to settle or you'll grind them to death with all the fine sediment floating around

'Live' sand has bacteria in it that some feel helps start or 'seed' a new tank
If you're going to use true, wet-in-the-bag 'Live' sand then DO NOT wash it
If you're able to mix up your new salt water outside the tank, add the sand first and then slowly add the water
If you need to mix the salt in the tank first then, as reefwars stated, add the sand after the salt is mixed

I don't bother with it myself. Cheaper to buy dry and wait a bit.

add salt water to tank , add sand to tank as is .........confusion over my friend lol :)