---
title: "Benthic Algae Data Fields | Definitions"
slug: "benthic-algae-data-fields"
description: "Learn about the datafile format and input data required for benthic algae in the water quality solver."
updated: 2022-10-23T17:49:00Z
published: 2022-10-23T17:49:00Z
canonical: "help.floodmodeller.com/benthic-algae-data-fields"
stale: true
---

> ## Documentation Index
> Fetch the complete documentation index at: https://help.floodmodeller.com/llms.txt
> Use this file to discover all available pages before exploring further.

# Benthic Algae Data Fields

## Data Input

In order to input the required information for this pollutant into the Water Quality model, the user needs to make sure that the Tab Benthic Algae appears in the WQ General Tab. Then the user needs to select the Tab Benthic Algae and type in the necessary information for this pollutant in the fields which are shown on this Tab. Alternatively the necessary information for this pollutant can be typed in the .con file opened in a Textpad editor in the datafile format mentioned below.

## Datafile Format

Line 1 BENTHIC ALGAE

Line 2 stbenn, stbenp, stbens, rbenn, rbenp, rbens

Line 3 slmxbn, rben20, q10ben, dethbn

Where:

BENTHIC ALGAE = keyword

stbenn = Half saturation constant for nitrate uptake (mg/l),

stbenp = half saturation constant for phosphate uptake (mg/l)

stbens = half saturation constant for silicate uptake (mg/l)

rbenn = nitrogen to carbon ratio

rbenp = phosphorus to carbon ratio

rbens = silicon to carbon ratio

slmxbn = Solar radiation for maximum productivity (kJ/cm/hour)

rben20 = respiration rate at 20C (day)

q10ben = Qvalue for respiration of benthic algae

dethbn = mortality rate constant for benthic algae (day)