Ok, valves are my thing. It's how I have big arms and chest while being simultaneously fat and lazy. I work at a power plant that turns water into steam that spins a turbine and generator... we have more valves out here than you can shake a stick at. Some valves so small you can fit the whole thing in your hand and some so big you can walk thru them.
Ball valves work really well for return plumbing. Quick, easy shut off... just once every now and then during maintenance when the pump is off... actually turn it. They can get sort of stiff if they aren't moved often. Like me.
Gate valves are for regulating flow on a drain. They offer more precise flow control at the expense of being able to open and close them quickly.
Use a gate valve on your drain, and a ball valve on your return. You'll be able to get your drain silent (happy husband happy (nothing rhymes with husband)) and that would be nearly impossible with a ball valve.
