From what I have seen on here lately I would go with the buckets. Spacing depends on the plants size. IDK sooner or later the totes get to be a pain. The buckets i can see being easier to deal with even hooked to a control rez.
if you have to move a plant for any reason say a leaking system or to quickly move to fresh nutes.
Buckets from slowes are 3 bucks now and netpot lids either 6 or 8 inch are only 5 bucksat hydro shop.

OK you talked me into it. been trying to decide. Off to plan a refitting of buckets to our space.

Check out Marty and Tiny's grows.