This is My second attempt at starting an aquarium. My Husband had a 50-gallon fresh water tank back in the day which I loved to watch the fish - very hypnotic & fascinating, swimming to & fro - but when He leveled up I had to let His fishy friends go too (the maintenance requirements were too overwhelming for Me then). My first recent try was to go the traditional route - heater, filter, bottles of water conditioner & beneficial bacteria, etc. etc. - when I unexpectedly happened upon an eye-opening You-Tube vid about the Walstad method (less homework & a more natural environment, the way God intended). So I returned all that other gear & am starting from scratch. Fernando eased My initial anxiety arriving as a total tank newbie, and gave Me a tour of the various low-maintenance plants I could start My nitrogen cycling with. Nolan - the Captain of this aquarium supplies ship - answered every one of My questions with patience & grace, did not talk down to Me or make Me feel stupid, and I left feeling happily hopeful that I might actually be successful in creating a fish-friendly safe & healthy environment. I am already envisioning My future fishy tenants, plus a snail & a sucker fish or two. Wish Me luck!! :-) read more

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First off I just read Samantha M's review and I'm flabbergasted - this is the CLEANEST pet store in OC and most definitely there is ZERO smell. I've been to tongs, 8888, etc, trust me Nolan's is super clean. I came here for plants, they have a very large selection!!! My first time here was a few days ago - I got Hornwort, bolbitus, and dwarf water lettuce. They were all thriving. Hornwort fluffy and full! Also Thursday's is 25% off plants !! I came again today and brought a friend and she was also so happy we stayed there for like an hour just looking at everything. They have multiple rooms and a lot of tanks. The store seems small but it's not ; there's a lot of variety of fish, plants, and shrimp. Today there were red root floaters, one of the employees actually grew them - they were so healthy and super red I had to buy 3 cups !! I got more dwarf water lettuce bc my axolotl loved hanging in the roots. Staff today was super nice and helpful. There were 2 guys. It was extremely busy when I came like 10 people and they were helping everyone collaboratively. I hate when an employee only focuses on 1 customer who takes forever thinking and observing and there's a ton of ppl waiting. It wasn't like that here, the guy would answer a question and move on to another client. Also when the guy was fishing out some shrimp he was still talking to other customers and answering questions. I loved the vibe here. I will def be returning!!!!! read more

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Beautiful place! 10/10 recommended if you're close by or in town. Definitely worth seeing.

I was shortchanged. I spoke with nolan that I would like to order 6 cory habrosas for pick up the next day (today) and 5 CPDs. He says he will send me the invoice to pay over the internet. I told him i would pick up from San Diego (more than 100 miles of driving each way!!!) I did not pay yet and asked to change my CPDs to 3 otos. I told him i would like 6 habrosas, at least. When i drove up to santa ana (the next day), with an invoice of 6 habrosas there were only 4 in stock. I understand that Corys prefer larger groups. Had it been disclosed ahead of time that there were only 4 corys, i would not have driven up from SD to Santa ana and the INVOICE SHOULD HAVE BEEN CANCELLED BY THE SELLER If there is not enough stock. There were not even enough otos as i requested. -This wastes my 3 hours of round trip driving (100+ miles) and gas to be short changed. ----------------- -i will have to report this to the BBB as well. -after speaking directly with Nolan, i will wait for his business to rectify this situation before i take additional actions. --------------- Edit on 12/2 after seller's response below: 1. 85 miles or 100 is an approximate. It is a trivial point given that it is a long distance drive from sd to santa ana. The crux of the matter is that you sold me 4 cories when you knew ahead of time i wanted 6. I acknowledge you are closed on Wednesday. You had employees in the shop anyway on Wednesday--they said they had to come in anyway to feed the fish for the long weekend whether i came or not. 2. The invoice i received is an automated email invoice. I can email it to you like. It has 6 cories written on it, not 4. And to your reply i am not looking for other cories, iam looking for the habrosas. 3. You knew i was there to pick up six (that is why the invoice that you personally emailed me stated 6 habrosas, which you wanted me to pay). So Eiither you or your employees did not take stock before you emailed me an invoice or you knew ahead of time that you did NOT have 6 and tried to sell me what you have. 4. The 4 habrosas and the oto cats have SEVERE red gills when they were pre-packed in bags upon my arrival. Either this is due high ammonia or red gills disease. I regret buying them. 5. A local fish store in san diego says it is bacterial and recommends medicine treatment. Since the day i picked them up They have been in medicinal treatment and it is nearly a week where the red gills have been present even with daily water changes and 0 ammonia.. I never had this experience with other local fish stores. 6 aside, i have received unsolicited yelp correspondence from your employee. Note i was courteous with your employees. They did not need to initiate any involvement in yelp which was not appreciated. 7. The only correspondence was that you would send 2 cories free of charge on monday and i would not take further action until we resolve this problem. 8. Please do not send the 2 cories, i am wary of the quality of care from your shop given the state of the cories and oto cats. Going forward I will not be ordering from this "guppy mill". And i will report this to the bbb and to other social media sites read more

Nolan's Aquarium - Invoice for 6 habrosas - Aquariums Near Me - Santa Ana, California

Just happen to drop by after another lfs recommended. after walking in, i am in awe of their rimless tank selection. they have the exact tank i want that is sold out everywhere else. and, it happens to be on sale. i am so glad i dropped by. service is very chill. very happy there is an aquascape specific store somewhat local to me. no more driving to santa monica or west covina. read more

Found this placed years ago and don't know why I never reviewed it. After having a string of unhealthy fish and what felt like years of cycling water and testing and researching only to watch my fish die. I found this place thanks to the almighty Yelp. Sure, I could've found it if I went to the conventions, or talked to other hobbyists but that would make too much sense. All the fish I have gotten here have been healthy, happy, and lived full lives. They've gotten married, started families, and I have finally felt like I could handle an upgrade to a 45 gallon. I've also started a shrimp tank! Of which, by my own error, haven't done so well but I think things are looking up! I love supporting small businesses and I especially love when small businesses exceed the quality and expectations and experience than bigger businesses. read more

This place is located in a small industrial area. It's a little hidden but was a cool find. It was a bigger space than what I expected. They had a lot of selection of fish and aquatic plants. The worker was super knowledgeable and helpful. I liked that their inventory is locally sourced. read more

I keep coming back to Nolan's for a variety of reasons, and I've never felt more compelled to review a place- I wish I could give 10 stars. I stop by a lot without purchasing anything, it's like a sort of third place for me. read more

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Very kind staff, great selection of plants and fish. Patiently answered my questions as a newbie and even did a water test for me. To enter - the front door is locked. Ring the doorbell and wait patiently to be let in :) read more

As a new fish keeping hobbyist Nolan's has been there from the start. Super friendly and knowledgeable staff. I stop in often sometimes just to check out there amazing tanks up front. They always answer my questions with respect and never make me feel like I'm asking a stupid question. I will definitely keep coming back for the daily specials as I set up my 3rd tank with the help of Nolan and his team! read more

Nolan's Aquarium - Fish and plants doing well months later from Nolan's. - Aquariums Near Me - Santa Ana, California

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Fun local fish store!! I've been in the hobby for 25 years and popped in last night for the first time for a birthday purchase of neocardinis shrimp. The gentleman who helped me was very accommodating and even offered to tell me they were 15% off, which I would have never known! My overall impression of the store: A fun find! You will find a lot of species not available at a chain store. A very niche place and fun to look around! They have a giant conch-looking snail in one of their display tanks that the whole family loved! I did note some negative reviews as well and did note factors on my visit that could have lent to a negative review had I not been in the hobby for so long. 1) Algae? Yes. It happens and actually helps balance out the nutrients in the tank. Not a deal breaker for me. There are a ton of tanks in there, and despite algae present, the fish all looked happy and healthy. 2) Prices are a bit more than a box store, but this is more of a specialty store. You want that species that you can't get at the box store? Nolan's can get it. I asked about dwarf chain loaches and was assured they could put in an order if needed. Niche line of business means niche prices, which are generally worth it. 3) Pest snails. Not actual pest snails, but they have a lot of assassin snails, which also reproduce. Just know they are there. I personally do a good alum dip on any incoming plants and have never had a snail problem except once. I got ended up with some pest snails and just picked out the few that I saw. I did NOT get my pest snails from Nolan's, as the neocardinis are my first purchase there. I'm just making note of it for any newer hobbyists who are either terrified of all snails or who didn't notice them. read more

Nolan's Aquarium - My new shrimp, happily settled in mist 12 hours and feeding off the plants. - Aquariums Near Me - Santa Ana, California

Nolan's Aquarium is my go-to spot for a peaceful lunch break. The shop is calming, the tanks are beautiful, and every staff member is incredibly attentive and helpful. Every purchase I've made has been top quality. I've tried other places, but Nolan's truly beats them all. read more

Shop is in a industrial/business park. Unconventional entry but understandable given the circumstances. Tanks are organized in each room by categories. Team members are always attentive and cleaning. I have it seen a dirty tank or dead fish during visits. Good stock. Usually lots of African cichlids. But they also have high quality plants. Unfortunately, not a lot of live food with the exception of the occasional baby brine shrimp. Even Nolan is quite helpful and present. He replies to inventory inquiries and will hear local breeders out, regardless of what they have to offer. Keep up the good work! read more

I drive 1 hour to just come get stuff from Nolan. He also buys locally bread fishes, quarantines all the livestock that comes with it. Plants and fishes sell fast. Can't forget about the generous discounts he has during the week. read more

I found this place on yelp. Hah who knew eh. I came here to get plants, lots of them had a nice discount so i went to town. They have both pond and aquarium plants. Plants you dont usually find at petco or petsmart. Beautiful variety of fish, they were knowledgeable and attentive about their products. I was very happy snd excited. Felt like i was in a candy store. I really needed these plants cause yah my aquarium had none. Now it finally looks like a normal aquarium. I know it enhances the health of my fish by oxygen and great filtration , its about time. Thanks. read more

Nolan's Aquarium - Aquarium place inside - Aquariums Near Me - Santa Ana, California

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This place is seriously a hidden gem. Ive been to a number of aquatic stores and this place ranks at the top. It may not be that big in size but ended up having everything I needed and more. It's not all about size read more

Came here today to buy a couple African Cichlids for my dad's fish tank. Friendly knowledgeable staff, great selection of fish. Very satisfied with the overall experience. read more

Nolan's Aquarium - Dragon Blood Peacock Cichlid - Aquariums Near Me - Santa Ana, California

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My favorite fish store. Employees are always kind even though they can get quite busy. I try to get most of my supplies and especially animals and plants here cuz Nolan quarantines! Few stores do so I appreciate it. They carry a good supply of UNS tanks which are my favorite and Aquarium Co-op items. read more

Nolan's Aquarium - Starter tank with a crown tail betta, golden white cloud minnows, a moss ball and Anubias nana with Tahitian moon sand. - Aquariums Near Me - Santa Ana, California

Small local fish store located in an industrial park. The front door is locked, so just ring the doorbell to be let in. Fish seemed comfortable. Guy was very helpful and friendly. He said they only get fish from trusted suppliers. They carry Aquarium Coop products here. Small selection of plants. read more

Amazing spot for all your needs. I've been able to order specific aquarium fish that are hard to find at virtually any other fish store and Nolan's has always came through and been able to order the fish and get them to me within a amazing time frame! They are very customer friendly and helpful, I highly recommend this spot read more

Great guy. We had issues w/ our fish tank w/ family trying to clean it so we decided to hire a service. Nolan gave me the best quote by a mile. When he actually did service he came and did his work w/o bothering anyone and left w/o notice. He was nice enough to clean my brother's fish tank when he was out of town and said my brother could pay him later. This guy is by far way less expensive compared to the competition. read more

Bought a few fish from Nolan. A week later my tank got ich. I had to turn the heat up to keep it from getting any worse but several of my fish's died. I expected this from tongs but not from Nolan's. The day I bought my cardinals they had a couple in the back that were still young. I never had ich in my tank before this so I narrowed it down to the new fish I got from them. Quarantine your fish when you buy em. A bit frustrated especially when I paid more to support my local fish store. read more

Nolan's Aquarium - Dead cardinal tetra from ICH - Aquariums Near Me - Santa Ana, California

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Knowledgeable, educational and the perfect store to order fish from. All my healthiest fish have come from this store.

What an amazing display of aquatic creatures. The variety is amazing! I will most likely be coming back for more often. They had all the things I was looking for! read more

Great place for fresh water plants! If it weren't for Nolan's we'd prob have to go to LA or SD to set up our tank. We got all our plants, khuli loaches, and mystery snails from Nolan's. They are knowledgeable, honest, and friendly. The store is located in a business office area. It helped to look at the store front pics b4 you go so you can find it. Keep on keeping Nolan's we heart you. read more

Nolan's Aquarium - Aquariums Near Me - Santa Ana, California

This is our go to shop. My wife and I got in to the hobby, had lots of questions and the boys at Nolan's Aquarium took care of us. We visit frequently as Nolan constantly is bringing in new fish, plants, tanks etc. Highly recommend trying it out if you have not. read more

Filthy tanks, stinky rooms, sick fish. Bettas in small dirty bowls too? Like i understand working there you may become nose blind but some rooms smell noticeably worse than others and some of that smell is likely from the amount of burnt out air pumps. Hardly any tank i saw had a working air pump. 5 bubbles a second for a 20 gallon tank full of cichlids or something is not enough. The store has potential but i was so disappointed especially as i drove 30 minutes to get there. Looking at the water lines on the tanks, the nasty amount of buildup on the tanks and filter sponges, and the emaciated frogs and fish, these conditions happened over weeks and not a few days. Also note the shells on the mystery snails. Looking at the spiral you will see their shells are actually eroding, something that happens with too low pH and not enough calcium etc. Seeing the condition of the dwarf frogs is what got me to leave. They are emaciated and it made me sick. I know what tannins are, calcium buildup, etc. i love this hobby and believe in accountability as well. Included is a picture of one of my own healthy african dwarf frog for reference. I have been keeping fish, amphibians, and reptiles for years so i know a bit of what i like to talk about. Attention to detail MATTERS. read more

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Nolan is the man and how he operates his business really shows how much of a true aquatic genius‍ this man is ... first off, his shop is open to buying and selling of fish, so one of my first questions to Nolan, was "how do you keep up with all the fish that are incoming and outgoing ..." he is very reasonable as long as you talk to him about it ... and he told me i think 75/80%ish of his fish are commercial and the other 25ish% are locally tank bred. I highly recommend any local tank bred fish as they are typically raised in better conditions and to me they are more happy & active!! On my most recent visit, I was helped by his two associates, David & Fernando. They were both super friendly and knowledgable about all the different fish and aquatic life. I got into more detail with David and let me tell you this kid is another aquatic genius in the making ... he was teaching me about Co2, H2o, diff types of drop checkers, different types of regulators, which fish are the most aggressive during feeding, etc.... I felt like I was back in Chemistry class with the amount of knowledge he was dropping on me ... Pro Tip: they are setting up their co2 refill system, so once it is ready I will be bringing in my (3) 20oz tank for Nolan and his team to save on a separate trip! I often have pleco bristlenose spawning so if you drop in Nolans shop, please so be on the lookout for some home bred long fin bristlenose babies!! I dropped some off the other day!! Ill be back to pick up some of those black widow frontosas!! Thanks Nolan & Team!! read more

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Nolan and his team are extremely friendly, knowledgeable and helpful, whether you are a beginner like I was or veteran in the hobby. If he doesn't have it he will get it for you, and quickly too! All stock comes extremely healthy and lively read more

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This was my first visit to Nolan's Aquarium. It's several small rooms, but the selection of fish was impressive. I bought a couple of snails, some Bamboo Shrimp and some Harlequin Rasboras. They are all doing great and have adapted nicely to their new environment. I will definitely return to Nolan's for any future purchases. read more

Worth going out of your way to visit - LOWEST prices of any store - Only fish store in the area that QUARANTINES their fish - WILL NOT try to sell you what you don't need - Great selection of stones and wood - large variety of low & high tech plants (bunches, potted, and tissue culture) - Carries high-quality brands such as UNS, Aquarium Co-op, Fritz, Xtreme, Sera, Sicce, Seachem, Chihiros, TWINSTAR, and many more - Supports local breeders - Offers CO2 refills (best to let them know in advance) - Aquarium servicing available I exclusively shop here now, and Nolan and all of his team are knowledgeable and friendly. They can answer all of your beginner or niche questions. If you don't see the fish you're looking for, ask, and they could get it from the back or place an order for you. Pretty much anything found on BUCEPLANT, they can order at a better price, so support the local fish stores!!! read more

I was beyond excited to find Nolan's Aquarium, and even more excited when I called and they confirmed they had PEA PUFFERS! I raced right over and picked up three. They're so tiny and so beautiful. Nolan's Aquarium is well stocked and the staff was super helpful! I'm trying to fight off multiple tank syndrome, but I think it's only a matter of time before I get the urge to get another tank and wet pets. I'll definitely go back to Nolan's when it's time to get another tank. read more

Attentive and informative would definitely go back Bought some drift wood really like the size of the fish and great prices read more

The aquascapes in the store are impressive the prices are reasonable and they also have driftwood and stone.

A must go to when in the area. Friendly and very helpful. Thank you to Nolan and staff.

I go to Nolan's mostly for the African cichlid collection. The young fish are always priced really well. I've gotten some small gems from him. Always has a ton of mystery snails available as well. Weekly sales are a bonus! read more

A few months ago my boyfriend and I got a free tank from a friend and we went to go check out Nolan's Aquarium and was blown away with all the beautiful freshwater fish that he had. We are new to fish keeping and originally was looking into a salt water setup, so we were surprised by the beauty and ease of caring for freshwater fish. We now have 3 tanks and 71 fish! I love checking out the new bristle nose pleco (my favorite) that he gets in every time we go! Thanks to him we now have a calico, an albino and a blue eyed lemon bristle nose. His plant selection is amazing and have grown like weeds! My only complaint is he is a little far away but so worth the drive! Thank you for all the amazing advice and help along the way! read more

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Our go to place for all plants & fish! Everyone is always super helpful & they have great deals as well. Love Nolan's !

This little nondescript fish store is a treasure trove of great fish selection as well as really great prices (read: really low prices). The guys that run the business are really chill and cool. Eager to assist you and provide explanations and educate you on proper fish husbandry (is that the right use of the word). We've been here a few times and each time it's been a positive experience. For example, we had purchased a tank setup for our baby guppies (aka fries) and find that the filter would periodically stop working. Brought it back and he checked to see and once it stopped working for him it was an easy exchange. No hassles. If you're looking to get into fresh water fish come here you won't be disappointed by the selection and your wallet will be happy as well. read more

Great shop, great selection, even better people! I'm so glad I checked out Nolan's a few years ago because it's become my go-to for freshwater live and dry goods. Since discovering Nolan's, I've set up seven aquariums much to my wife's dismay. Nolan, Alex, and the guys helped me out with substrate, rocks, driftwood, plants, and even provide solid advice when I ask questions. They consistently exceed my expectations. From quarantining all arrivals before sale to holding back sick fish because they care about their customer's outcome/experience over profits. Nolan even helped me order a custom-built stand with the exact stain/color that I picked out from Home Depot. They're simply the best and I'll be shopping here, supporting the guys as long as they're around! read more

Nolan's Aquarium - UNS tank, substrate, rocks, driftwood, plants, light, heater, sponge filter... all purchased at Nolans! - Aquariums Near Me - Santa Ana, California