Balikpapan – As part of its commitment to the Impactful Campus initiative, Institut Teknologi Kalimantan (ITK) continues to encourage students to create practical solutions that benefit local communities. Through a Social Innovation program, Khairunisya Janatul Nadiah, an Environmental Engineering student from the Class of 2023, developed an aquaponics system at P4S ABAS FARM KM. 12 to promote more sustainable fish farming and vegetable cultivation.

Supervised by Husein Syahab, S.T., M.T. and Muhammad Anjas Syam, S.T., M.T., the project addressed challenges in conventional catfish farming, where uneaten feed and fish waste often reduce water quality while valuable nutrients remain underutilized.

The aquaponics system integrates catfish cultivation with water spinach (kangkung) production by circulating nutrient-rich pond water through a planting system. The installation consists of a three-meter PVC pipe with 15 planting holes, a water pump, and a dual-stage filtration system using volcanic sand, gravel, zeolite, sponge, and filter fiber to maintain water quality.

The project involved site observation, system design, installation, and hands-on training for the farm managers. During a 14-day monitoring period, the system successfully supported healthy plant growth, reduced sediment buildup in the pipes, and maintained stable conditions for the fish.

Beyond improving resource efficiency, the aquaponics installation also serves as an educational demonstration of integrated and environmentally friendly agriculture for visitors and the local community.

This initiative reflects ITK's commitment to transforming academic knowledge into real-world solutions. By empowering students to collaborate directly with community partners, ITK continues to contribute to sustainable development, environmental stewardship, and innovation that creates meaningful impact for society.