Live Sand v. 'Reef Base' from RedSea

[nacl+h2o fish]

I am wondering what you all think?
The Red Sea MAX folks have a 22 LB. 'REEF BASE' sterile substrate with 'aragonite'(?) coral chips and a bottle of 'NitroBac', a 5 strain nitrifying bacteria starter as part of there very complete testing/saltwater 'Starter Kit'.
My question is:
Does it make sense to start the system w/ a sterile strata and the 'NitroBac' versus Live Sand with unknown(?) buggers in the mix?
(Something I practiced many years ago in cycling my new tanks.)
The Red Sea MAX folks still enthusiastically encourage a later addition of Live Rock .
Any thoughts?
Thanks...

 

[paintballer768]

It seems best to add live sand and live rock and introduce bacteria that way. I dont think there will be much long term consequences to using their stuff. I wouldnt pay extra for it but thats just me.
I never got any hitchhikers in my live sand, its vacuum air sealed and bagged, I dont think anything could survive other than bacteria.

 

[nacl+h2o fish]

Originally Posted by paintballer768
It seems best to add live sand and live rock and introduce bacteria that way. I dont think there will be much long term consequences to using their stuff. I wouldnt pay extra for it but thats just me.
I never got any hitchhikers in my live sand, its vacuum air sealed and bagged, I dont think anything could survive other than bacteria.
Thanks for your thoughts Paintballer768

The Red Sea Max folks suggest that their 'Reef Base' w/ aragonite coral chips and sand spheres offers more surface area for beneficial bacteria than live sand. They include it in their $ 100 starter kit w/ enough of the sterile strata for the tank and NitroBac for introducing 5 types of nitrifying bact. The kit also includes salt mix for the tank, beneficial additives and all the testing equip. I'm thinking thats not too bad a deal?!

Any preferences on Live Rock? I need 24 lbs. per the Red Max folks recommendations...
Thanks Again!