OMG...The proud owner for the last 22 years of a lovely 1800 gallon Koi pond, have had only two other outside folks come out to do major repairs, totally wished I had known about Nick & A-1 Koi ponds then. Simply cannot recommend his company any better! Aside from replacing our intake skimmer he & his crew thoroughly went through our pond & shored up numerous issues all while keeping our fishies safe & happy. The other bonus is that he has an EPIC fish sanctuary in his backyard with 100's of beautiful Koi fish! Oh yeah, a thoroughly good dude too read more

A-1 Koi Ponds - Koi pond major maintenance by real Pros - Local Fish Stores Near Me - San Ramon, California

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Called for pond repair. Was told to send them pictures of the pond for a quote. After I sent the pictures I was just completely ghosted. No response whatsoever. read more

These guys are great! Very professional and thorough and a pleasure to deal with! Will always go back to them!

Today my water pump stopped working after nine years. I found A-1 Koi ponds here on yelp, and I decided to give them my address for an emergency visit. They did such a great job. My Koi pond is up and running once again, thank you so so much. read more

Nick is very professional and thorough and his service is commendable. we were distress looking at the pond in our new house, called Nick and he responded and came back the next day, fixed lot of issues with the pond system, starting from filter to uv light to skimmer, in fact the previous owner how no idea on these. we are glad to find Nick who reworked on everything and set it up for perfection. I highly recommend his service, especially for Japanese style concrete Koi ponds. He is amazing. read more

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Beautiful! Awesome! Relaxing! Enjoyable! Maintenance Free! --Our backyard is now an oasis. These are just a few of the words that come to mind when I look at the pond A1 built for us. Nick helped me build a small pond a couple years ago, which was really nice so I thought. Nick advised me at the time to go bigger, stronger and with higher level maintenance free filtration. He warned me I'll want to in the future and boy was he right. The new pond Nick and his team built us is very carefree and easy to maintain. It stays clean/clear and is breathtaking to look at. It is AWESOME and pictures don't do it justice, but I posted some anyway. Thank you so much for our little spot of heaven. It is something we will enjoy for years! P.S. I very much appreciate your attentive support even after the pond was built. You have great customer service. Thank you so much! read more

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Nick did a great job building our 10x12 formal pond. He made our dream koi pond a reality and we couldn't be any happier. He was very professional about his work and installed a filtering system that is low in maintenance. We knew a new pond needed time for conditions were ideal for fish to thrive in so we were patient and follow Nick's advice when fish can be added to our new pond. It took many weeks, but it paid off. We had purchased our koi fish from Nick too and the koi fishes looks healthy and happy in their new home. He has a nice selection of koi fish that were all imported from Japan at great prices. Nick's work was beyond our expectations. We would recommend Nick to anyone building a koi pond or buying quality koi fish. read more

Nick Johal has serviced my koi pond for several years and has done a great job each time. A couple months ago, in late June, I was experiencing some slow leaks in my 25-year-old pond and needed quick repairs as my daughter was getting married in my back yard in early July. Nick offered me several options and I decided to completely remove the existing pond & materials and replace it with a deeper, wider pond, approximately 2,000 gallons. Since I had only a couple weeks before the wedding, Nick brought a team of guys to complete the work - he started on a Friday and completed it on Sunday! He and his team did a terrific job in replacing my entire pond in only 3 days. See the attached pictures of my new awesome pond! Nick has even come back, on his own, twice, to ensure I knew how to clean all the filters and keep the pond safe for my 19 koi fish and 7 red and yellow eared sliders (turtles). Thanks Nick and your team for your dedication to making my pond one of a kind - we love it and enjoy it daily! read more

A-1 Koi Ponds - My new awesome Koi pond - thanks Nick!! - Local Fish Stores Near Me - San Ramon, California

Beautiful! Awesome! Relaxing! Enjoyable! Maintenance Free! --Our backyard is now an oasis. These are just a few of the words that come to mind when I look at the pond A1 built for us. Nick helped me build a small pond a couple years ago, which was really nice so I thought. Nick advised me at the time to go bigger, stronger and with higher level maintenance free filtration. He warned me I'll want to in the future and boy was he right. The new pond Nick and his team built us is very carefree and easy to maintain. It stays clean/clear and is breathtaking to look at. It is AWESOME and pictures don't do it justice, but I posted some anyway. Thank you so much for our little spot of heaven. It is something we will enjoy for years! P.S. I very much appreciate your attentive support even after the pond was built. You have great customer service. Thank you so much! read more

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Nick responded to my request in Yelp and came to talk to me very quickly. He came back the next afternoon and completed the job. I could tell that he is very experienced, fully equipped and extremely efficient. He made things look so easy. I now have happy fish, a clear pond and am very glad to know about Nick's services. Thank you. read more

Customer service is really important in any industry and I really appreciate that the owner, Nick, comes out to personally handle any concerns we as consumers have. The team came out to do a concrete pad for me in my backyard and was able to do a very nice job. I know there are many Companies that do concrete, but I was referred by my contractor and friend to use them because of their good craftsmanship. I totally agreed with that part. On top of the work itself, something really worth noting is their way of rendering situations. I originally had a concern with the Company and immediately, Nick came out personally to talk to me and render the situation. I call that real professionalism and taking ownership. Most companies just do one gig and leave without caring how their customers feel, but not Koi, they make sure they do what ever they can do rectify any problems you have. Again, I'm happy with the results and the work their team did and will be recommending my friends to work with them in the near future. Will be posting up pictures of the work, but it's a bit too late so I can't take good pictures. read more

A-1 Koi Ponds - My floor got all messed up as well when they were working - Local Fish Stores Near Me - San Ramon, California

Nick helped us repair our underlying pond plumbing issues by replacing all the pipes with schedule 40 pvc , laying a new floor, installing aerated bottom drains, resealing our cement pond , reconnecting our skimmers , and installing new pumps and aerators. In addition he also reconnected the bottom drain lines to our existing vortex filters, converted a chamber to a moving bed, and helped acquire and install 2 bakki showers. We hope that our updates to the 8000 gallon pond will last for many years to come and be supported in case any issues arise read more

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Nick helped us clean and repair a pond we inherited with a new house and added some new features (new pump, new skimmer) to make maintenance easier on it. The pond has been working great so far and we love how easy it is to maintain now. The water has never been clearer and the fish are happy to have more room to roam after cleaning the bottom. Nick responds timely to our questions as new koi owners and has been very patient with us as we have had a lot to learn. I definitely would recommend Nick for your Koi pond needs. Thank you, Nick! read more

Terrible to communicate to set up an appointment. They replied text 1 message every 1-2 days. Took me four days to set up a future time but missed the appointment again and again. Either no response at the appointment time or telling a future time and missed that again. They took no responsibilty of their word. No chance they would be responsible for their job. Avoid. read more

Nick is hands down one of the most honest, reasonable, and down to earth koi keeper/dealers we have ever met. He took the time to sort out more koi than We asked for and did not pressure us to purchase any koi at all. He has koi for a novice koi keeper to certified koi. Very knowledgeable when it comes to critiquing koi and actually recommended his own picks. Not only does he have a wide variety of koi. He also has all the parts to complete a pond build. I would give more stars if I could! Keep it up a-1! read more

Nick did a great job of troubleshooting issues with a submerged pump and filter system in a backyard fountain. He tested a new pump but then recommended retaining the original one (thus saving me the replacement cost). He updated and expanded the filtration system, which solved the problem. Although it was hard to get an appointment scheduled, it was worth the wait. Would definitely recommend Nick and A-1 Koi. read more

Nick did a great job cleaning/fixing the pond. It's nice, clean, and everything is working great.

Great service. The pond looks great and the fish have adapted to there environment. Thank you read more

Pond bog filter, pump, UV Light, and pressurized bead filter were in need of servicing and basic maintenance. I have not been the best Stewart over the last two years. Nick and his team corrected and enhanced my Koi pond significantly. First, the bog filter was really no more than a trap for sediment and roots. Nick noted this and removed the rock, some plants, and replaced the small stones with Japanese mats. He serviced the bead filter and replaced the UV light and sleeve. And he reset the copping stones -- many had come loose from the original mortar and had been needing attention for some time. I now have a pond with brilliant water clarity, a plant-contained area that I can now keep up, and an environmental system that is updated and reliable. I am impressed with Nick's technical depth and breadth with Koi and Koi ponds as well as his suggestions for improving my set-up. His team is friendly, professional, and courteous. I will be using A- Koi regularly. The Koi have never been happier. read more

I've bought from Nick since way back when he had cheaper koi. Since then, he has opted for higher quality koi. They're definitely nicer than you'll find at most places. Nick is nice and tries to provide a discount when possible. He also doesn't try to sell you and only wants you to spend what you are comfortable with. That being said, his prices are good for what you're getting. Those who own koi or are in the hobby know that they're not cheap. I was actually with Nick when the two bad reviewers came on 8/4/18. This family randomly showed up during my reservation and chose out fish under the impression that they were all $25. When I first came in, Nick showed me the tank with the $25 fish but also mentioned that it was only the smaller ones. The family chose several large fish and were upset when Nick measured them and showed them his price chart. This price chart is also on his craigslist ads and his website. After they left, Nick proceeded to bag up my fish selections and bring them to my car. He also apologized for my time and gave me a few complimentary drinks for the ride home. I'm very happy with my purchase and can't wait for when Nick has the rest of his viewing tanks up and running. read more

I typically go to Connie's in Hayward to get my koi, but this place is just as good if not better. Nick was very helpful in selecting the fish that would fit best for my pond, and ended up buying a beautiful calico butterfly koi. Great reliable place to go to if you're in the area and need fish. Especially since there's not many other places like this around in the area. read more

I'm repeat customer at A-1 Koi. Nick is very nice and friendly to work with.... high quality Koi. I will be back again. read more

It took a bit to get the ball rolling but the end result was great! We had a leak in our liner from rats/mice chewing on it. Our pond was leaking water somewhere underneath. After some back and forth texts they came out and assessed that the liner had been chewed up. They proposed to replace the upper part of the Liner. Once they got here, they went ahead and replaced the whole liner and components! We're so pleased to have our pond working with our fish intact. A great reliable company that lets their work speak for them! read more

Nick provided me high quality advice. I appreciate his time.

By the way Nick the Koi are doing great, eating swimming and jumping. They are absolutely loving their new pond read more

A-1 Koi Ponds - The Koi are doing great, loving their new pond - Local Fish Stores Near Me - San Ramon, California

Scheduled Nick to come out and assess my koi pond leak issue. He came in and updated the pipes and shut off valve. Explained how to self manage it, something prior companies never did. I will use him again in a minute. Thanks Nick for the service read more

I called wanting help with a leak in my koi pond. They were able to come out to my home (in Stockton!) and came up with a solution. Their work was reasonably priced and I'm in love with the end result. I will definitely be calling them again! read more

This review is long overdue. I have been working with Nick for a year and a half on upgrades for my filtration system in koi pond. Last year, Nick made a recommendation to install a drum filter, bakki shower, and adding another pump which instantly made my pond water incredibly clear. Earlier this year a friend had given me his large filter tank. I went to Nick again to ask for some help and recommendation. He was skeptical at first, thinking it was a bit over kill. He thought I should add 2 more pumps and said it would save money on electrical. Once he installed them, I was a bit overwhelmed as the computer technology was over my head. Now, everyday I back flush and I realize how convenient these pumps are! And my electrical bill has gone down $90. Along with the pumps came quite a bit of plumbing that he was able to take care of fast and efficiently. Recently one of my small pumps went out I called nick he immediately picked up and sent a link, ordered the pump. And I was able to install it myself. I'm so appreciative for all Nick has done and continues to help with. read more

A-1 Koi Ponds - Local Fish Stores Near Me - San Ramon, California

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Are you new to koi? If so you need to know the difference between koi from Japan verses koi from here in the US. For what ever reason "many" the colors and quality is simply better. Come see my pond and you can call out the koi from Nick verses the koi from American breeders. I'm all about buying American but I draw the line when it comes to koi! Nick is young, ambitious and there to help you get great fish at a value price. His overhead is low enabling him to provide koi at a fair price. I have procured 2 sets of three so far all are great but the one the raccoon got. Become part of those who are helping Nick grow his customer base and get some excellent koi to boot! read more

I called this company multiple times and never received a call back. Just need a pump installed. Not a big job.

This company don't deserve even 1 star! Be very careful with the owner Nick! He is not a honest person at all! He charged a lot of money to redo my koi pond, he said he will guarantee that water will have no problem and my fishes will not die. We believe him. We bought a few really expensive fishes from him, cost us over thousands of dollars. They all died within few months. We got an expert came in and inspected our pond and said that our fishes got sick because of water, so Nick filtering system is not working and killed all my fishes!!!Normally you need to wait at least 6 months to 1 year before you should put nice koi fishes in the pond, but because Nick wants to make money, he didn't care and sold few expensive koi fishes to us to immediately put in the pond. Ended up all of our fishes died. He also forced us to sign a doc not to sue him for anything he did! My attorney told us not to sign it, the doc is ridiculous! Be very very careful with the owner Nick and the company, he is very sneaky and dishonest! Please don't buy any fishes from him!!! Your money will go down the drain for sure! read more

A-1 Koi Ponds - Infected and dead koi fish - Local Fish Stores Near Me - San Ramon, California

Replace my fountain pump. His schedule was very busy but he found the time to do this as there isn't any plumber or contractor who knows and would do this kind of repair. Did the job as promised, as per quoted, arrive as per appointment time. read more

Very helpful, knowable, helped us with patience, they spent time with us and helped us pick out fish. Prices posted at location and worked out a Great price for package deal. The fish are acclimated to our pond and very happy!!! read more

A-1 Koi Ponds - Local Fish Stores Near Me - San Ramon, California

Nick is very knowledgeable about ponds. After spending a lot of money on different products to attempt to make my pond clear and after losing a lot of fish due to ammonia build-up and not knowing how to operate my pond, A-1 Koi came to the rescue and re-did my pond. Today, the water is crystal clear, and the water quality is excellent. If you have any doubts about why your pond is not in tip-top condition, call A-1 ponds and they will solve your problems. read more

Nick was wonderful and able to fix my problem with my UV light. Have had many people over the years, but Nick is smart and truly an expert on fish and ponds. I cant say enough only wishing I had known about them years ago. Money so well spent. read more

My son and I purchased three koi from A-1 a couple months ago. Nick was very friendly and helpful in choosing the koi and they are still doing great in our pond. read more

Nick is very friendly knowledgeable and helpful. Also very reasonable prices with great selection. He is also excellent in koi equipment and installation. read more

Service was great! Prices are very reasonable. My fish are doing great in my pond. I would highly suggest

Contacted them for a pump that was not working. Waited for them to confirm availability but it was worth the wait. They spotted the problem and fixed it right away. Turns out it didn't need an expensive repair, and they were honest about it, and saved me extra cost. Would recommend them and use them for future work. read more

Fish were very beautiful. Variety of sizes. However, the seller was very confusing about the prices. On Craigslist, the prices were different than in person. He told us the one in the front tank were ALL $25. We asked to look at the ones in the back and he said "No, take a look at these first". After we picked out 5 fish from the front tank, we were allowed to go look in the back. When we were going to pay, he told us the fish were not all $25, and that there was a price based on how many inches the fish were. Usually, sellers have specific sizes in specific tanks. The whole experience was just very frustrating.. ended up not buying any. Cute dog though. read more