We used distilled water, but we did this outside so the risk for contamination and ionization was pretty high, I suppose that could explain most of it.
We used borax for our electrolyte solution. We also degreased with 91% isopropyl and then directly into a rinse and then a wet storage container (both filled with distilled water.)
I think the gator clips may have been adding some resistance, by the time we were done the positive clip was very oxidized, we ran a file on the teeth part way through to clean it up.