Valves needed: Pump inlet: -->ball valve, on/off only. Pump outlet: --ball valve, on/off only. Return line:--> Gate valve, above 1" branch, flow control, Branch: -->gate/needle valve to control flow, one for each reactor.
Unions needed: Pump inlet: --> sch 40 spa fitting. Pump outlet: -->sch 40 spa fitting. All other unions in the system are a waste, and potential leak points. 99% of folks, whether it is planned for or not, will never take their plumbing apart, let alone spend the time to clean it, and dissasembly is not necessary for cleaning.
True union ball valves are a huge waste, as for ball valve usage (not mis-usage) $5 valves are all that is needed. If you are taking your plumbing apart all the time, maybe there is something wrong with the plumbing set up...
Glued in gate valves, if not butted against other fittings, (should not be anyway) are reuseable for as many times as there is a little over an inch of pipe sticking out both ends.
The pump needs to be removed at least twice a year, for cleaning and maintenance. No one does that? Well they are supposed to be doing that...and the spa fittings make it possible.
Other than that, the over "fitting" of return systems is a bit silly.