Making Vitae takes 4 cycles. Moving it the maximal distance away per arm takes 3 cycles. A single atom can move 6 hexes every 3 cycles; a stick of length N moves 5 + N hexes. Making a stick one longer thus costs 4 cycles but gains 1 hex per 3 remaining cycles.

I drew up a formula. I did the math. Then I gave up and just tried different combinations, and got to 2+3. Then I redid the math and it said 1+3 and 1+4 ought to be the best. 1+3 was not better, but 1+4 was indeed!