I agree. Good advice. Build once, if possible.
Check out the sluckets. You can buy the buckets and other system parts individually. I did have to search around for a discount vendor. At the time, I didn’t think it was too expensive … if you are willing to drill, cut, plastic glue, etc.
Example diagram (the flow is the opposite to other systems, bottom fed):
Add/remove stations as fit. Some photos of piecing together that set-up here.