I've pretty much always used IO. Yes, the mixing bucket is not the cleanest after several water make ups. About once every three years or so I'll clean out the bucket with some acid and a good scrub. I don't get too worked up on the levels of calcium, alkalinity, and magnesium straight out of the bag. If the level of both calcium and alkalinity are too elevated then they won't really go properly into solution (in this case it doesn't matter who is making the salt). I never do water changes larger than 10-15%. I control calcium and alkalinity with a calcium reactor and on very rare occasion with a single adjustment with either calcium chloride or baking soda, depending on which is low. I also check for magnesium once in a great while, my tank used to consume it at some clip, but that's no longer the case, so I almost never have to correct the levels (maybe the level in IO is higher than it used to be, I don't really know).