I still stand behind what i said and I will explain a little. I was thinking that he wanted to buy a pre built system and for $50 and under the water farm is a still IMO and can produce some mid size trees. For DIY, bubble buckets are probably the easiest. With the 8 pack water farm I have noticed many people do modifications, but they would rather make the modifications than change to a new system. I do not really know of a premade system that is as cheep, durable and can really produce as much with as few complications as the water farm single bucket unit, not to say that there are no problems or nothing that compares, just not in my exp.
IMO with a 8 plant set up to grow 2 to 3 FT plants without too many complications would be a 3x3 or 4x4 ebb and flow table with a strain that has little side branching. In a 3x3 you can put about 9 fairly easy and harvest up to 3oz per plant with a good strain and a dialed in system and the table will only take up a 3x3 foot print where the water farm will take up an entire small room.
Well I like everyone's input and feel that everyone made good points.
Adieu