AquaFutures Account Reset: How to Start Over After a Breach

Written by Paul

Published on

January 12, 2026

AquaFutures doesn't offer discounted "resets" like some prop firms. When you breach an evaluation, you need to purchase a new subscription ($114-$196/month depending on account type) and start completely from scratch—$0 profit, 0 win days, fresh drawdown threshold.

Quick heads-up: This article is based on my real experience with Aquafutures and the info available when I published/updated this. Things change in prop trading — rules, payouts, promos, all of it.

For the absolute latest, check Aquafutures´s website or their faq page.

The reset process is simple: log into your AquaFutures account, purchase a new evaluation, and start trading. But before you restart, take 24-48 hours to analyze what caused the breach—otherwise you'll repeat the same mistakes.

I'm breaking down how to reset after breaching, what carries over (nothing) vs what resets (everything), whether you should choose the same account type or change strategies, how to avoid repeating mistakes, and how much resets typically cost over multiple attempts.

Why AquaFutures Doesn't Offer Discounted Resets

Some prop firms (Topstep, Earn2Trade) offer reset options: pay $99-$150 to restart your evaluation from the breach point without losing all progress.

AquaFutures uses a subscription model instead. You're paying monthly for access to capital—not paying per evaluation attempt. If you breach, your subscription continues (unless you cancel), and you can start a new evaluation at the current monthly rate.

Topstep model: Pay $165/month → breach → pay $99 reset fee → continue from breach point

AquaFutures model: Pay $114/month → breach → next month's payment starts a fresh evaluation

Neither model is inherently better—they're just different approaches. AquaFutures' model is simpler: one price, unlimited attempts per month.

For cost comparisons, see the pricing guide.

What Happens to Your Progress When You Reset

When you breach and start a new evaluation, everything resets to zero:

❌ Profit progress: If you were at $2,800 of a $3,000 target, you start the new account at $0.

❌ Win days: If you had 4 winning days, the new account starts at 0 win days.

❌ Trade history: Your old account's trades don't carry over. New account = new trade log.

❌ High water mark: Your drawdown threshold resets to the original starting balance ($50K account = $47,500 threshold).

✅ Lessons learned: The only thing that carries over is experience. You know what caused the breach and (hopefully) how to avoid it.

You're starting completely fresh—as if the previous evaluation never happened. No partial credit, no "you were close" bonuses.

How to Reset: Step-by-Step

Step 1: Let Your Emotions Settle (24-48 Hours)

Don't restart immediately after breaching. Your emotions are running hot—frustration, anger, regret. Trading in this state leads to revenge trading and another quick breach.

Take 1-2 days off. Clear your head. Come back with a logical plan.

Step 2: Analyze What Caused the Breach

Pull up your trade history from the breached account. Identify the specific mistake:

Did you hit your daily loss limit? → Position sizing was too large
Did you breach your trailing drawdown? → Held losers too long or didn't track threshold
Did you violate the consistency rule? → Made too much in one day
Did you breach during major news? → Didn't close positions before FOMC/NFP

Write down the exact cause. This prevents you from repeating it.

Step 3: Create a Prevention Plan

Based on your breach analysis, define specific changes:

If you breached from position sizing:

"I will trade 3 contracts max instead of 6"
"I will never risk more than $400 per trade"

If you breached from holding losers:

"I will use 10-point stops on ES, no exceptions"
"I will exit any trade down more than 15 points"

If you breached from revenge trading:

"After any $300+ loss, I stop trading for the day"
"I will not trade after 2 consecutive losing trades"

If you breached from news events:

"I will close all positions by 8:15am on NFP Fridays"
"I will not hold positions during FOMC announcements"

Make your plan specific and enforceable. "Trade better" isn't a plan. "Use 3 contracts with 10-point stops" is a plan.

Step 4: Purchase a New Evaluation

Log into your AquaFutures account. Navigate to "Start New Evaluation" or similar. Choose your account type and size, complete payment, and your new account activates within 24 hours.

Step 5: Start Trading With Your New Rules

Implement the prevention plan from Step 3. Trade conservatively for the first week to rebuild confidence. Don't try to "make up for lost time" by trading aggressively—that's how you breach again quickly.

Should You Choose the Same Account Type After Breaching?

Choose the same account type if:

The breach was your fault (position sizing error, revenge trading), not the account structure
You understand the rules better now and can trade within them
The account type matches your trading style

Choose a different account type if:

You breached because Standard's intraday tracking was too strict → switch to Beginner's EOD tracking
You violated the consistency rule repeatedly → consider whether you need a firm without consistency requirements
The contract limits were too restrictive → consider Standard (15 contracts) instead of Beginner (6 contracts)

Most traders should restart with the same account type. The breach usually comes from discipline failures, not rule structure. Switching account types won't fix revenge trading or oversized positions.

Exception: If you breached Standard's intraday drawdown multiple times, Beginner's EOD tracking might genuinely be easier for your style.

For account comparisons, see the Beginner vs Standard guide.

Should You Choose a Smaller Account Size After Breaching?

Arguments for downsizing:

✅ Lower profit target - $25K account requires $1,500 vs $50K's $3,000. Faster to pass.

✅ Psychological pressure - Smaller targets feel more achievable, reducing stress.

✅ Cheaper monthly cost - Same $114/month, but you could pass in 3-4 weeks instead of 6-8 weeks.

Arguments for keeping the same size:

✅ Better profit potential - $50K funded account generates more income than $25K once you're funded.

✅ Same difficulty - The profit target scales proportionally (6% regardless of size), so $25K isn't actually "easier."

✅ Contract limits - $50K and $25K both have 6 contracts (Beginner), so position sizing is identical.

Recommendation: Keep the same account size. Downsizing to $25K doesn't make the evaluation easier—it just makes your funded account less valuable. Fix the discipline issue instead of reducing your target.

Exception: If you're consistently hitting $1,800-$2,200 but struggling to reach $3,000, dropping to $25K ($1,500 target) might help you pass faster.

For account size details, see the account sizes comparison.

How Much Do Resets Cost Over Multiple Attempts?

AquaFutures charges $114/month (Beginner) or $196/month (Standard). If you breach and restart multiple times, costs add up:

Attempt	Duration	Cost (Beginner $114/mo)	Cumulative Total
Attempt 1	2 months	$228	$228
Attempt 2	2 months	$228	$456
Attempt 3	2 months	$228	$684
Attempt 4	2 months	$228	$912

Most traders pass by Attempt 2 or 3 ($456-$684 total). If you're on Attempt 4-5 ($912+), the issue isn't the account rules—it's your trading discipline or strategy.

At that point, consider:

Taking a break to develop your strategy on a personal account
Getting coaching or mentorship
Switching to a different firm with looser rules
Re-evaluating whether prop trading is the right path

Common Mistakes That Lead to Multiple Resets

1. Not Analyzing the Previous Breach

Restarting immediately without identifying the root cause leads to repeating the same mistake. Most traders who breach 4-5 times are making identical errors each time.

Solution: Spend 1-2 days reviewing your breach. Write down the specific cause and prevention plan.

2. Trading Too Aggressively on the Restart

"I need to make up for lost time" thinking leads to oversized positions and quick breaches. You're not behind—you're starting fresh.

Solution: Trade even more conservatively on the restart. Use 50% of your contract limit for the first week.

3. Ignoring Position Sizing

Using 6 contracts when you should use 3-4 is the #1 breach cause across all attempts. If you breached from position sizing on Attempt 1, you'll breach from it on Attempt 2 unless you change.

Solution: Hard cap your contracts. If the limit is 6, never trade more than 4—no exceptions.

4. Revenge Trading After Losses

Losing $500 and immediately trading again (bigger size) to recover turns a bad day into a breach. This pattern repeats across multiple attempts if not addressed.

Solution: After any $400+ loss, stop trading for the day. No exceptions.

5. Holding Losers Too Long

"It'll come back" thinking leads to -20 point ES trades that should have been -10 point stops. If you do this once, you'll do it again unless you enforce strict stops.

Solution: Set hard stop-loss orders at 10-15 points. No mental stops—use platform stops.

How Many Attempts Before You Should Give Up?

There's no magic number, but here's a framework:

Attempts 1-2: Normal learning curve. Most traders breach their first account. If you breach twice, you're still in the majority.

Attempts 3-4: You should be seeing improvement. If you're breaching at $2,800 instead of $1,200, that's progress. If you're still breaching at $600, something fundamental needs to change.

Attempts 5+: At this point, prop trading might not be the right path—or you need significant strategy changes. Consider:

Trading a personal account for 3-6 months to develop consistency without evaluation pressure
Taking a course or hiring a mentor
Switching to a firm with looser rules (no consistency requirement, higher drawdown limits)
Accepting that prop trading isn't your strength and focusing on personal capital

If you've spent $912+ on evaluations without passing, that money could have been invested in:

A trading course ($500-$1,000)
Personal trading capital ($500-$1,000 in futures margin)
Coaching/mentorship ($500-$2,000)

Don't throw good money after bad. If you're not making progress by Attempt 4-5, pause and re-evaluate.

Can You Request a "Fresh Start" to Avoid Your Breach History?

No. Your breach history is tracked internally by AquaFutures, but it doesn't affect your new evaluations.

Each evaluation is independent:

New $50K account starts at $50,000 with a $47,500 threshold
Previous breaches don't make the new evaluation harder
You're not "flagged" or penalized for multiple attempts

The only consequence of multiple breaches is the cumulative subscription cost ($228+ per attempt).

Should You Switch to Instant Funded Accounts After Multiple Breaches?

If you've breached 3-4 evaluation accounts, Instant funded accounts might seem appealing: pay $291 one-time, skip the evaluation, start trading immediately.

Consider Instant if:

You consistently reach $1,500-$2,500 but breach before hitting $3,000
You're profitable enough to make $1,500 within weeks
You can't afford to keep paying $114/month for 3-6 months

Don't switch to Instant if:

You're breaching at $500-$1,000 (you won't stay funded on Instant either)
You're violating the consistency rule (Instant has a stricter 20% limit)
You need the evaluation structure to enforce discipline

Instant funded accounts have tighter rules (20% consistency vs 40%, 7 win days vs 5, 2% wave stop). If you can't pass a regular evaluation, Instant will be harder—not easier.

What to Do If You Keep Breaching From the Same Mistake

If you've breached 2-3 times from identical mistakes (e.g., revenge trading every time), you need external accountability:

1. Trading Journal

Document every trade: entry reason, position size, exit reason, emotions. Review weekly to spot patterns.

2. Hard Rules Enforced by Technology

Can't stop revenge trading? Set a max daily loss on your platform (if available) or use position size limiters.

3. Trading Partner / Accountability Buddy

Find another trader (Discord, Reddit) who's also working on discipline. Text each other after trades. Social accountability reduces emotional decisions.

4. Coaching / Mentorship

Pay for a coach who reviews your trades and calls out patterns. Sometimes you need an external voice to break bad habits.

5. Take a Break

If you're breaching from the same mistake 3+ times, you might need 2-4 weeks off to reset mentally. Come back with fresh perspective.

Alternative: Trade Your Own Account First

If you're on Attempt 4-5 and still breaching, consider trading your own capital for 3-6 months before attempting another prop evaluation.

Why this works:

No evaluation pressure—you can make mistakes without losing your account
You develop real consistency without artificial rules
You learn your actual win rate, average profit, and risk tolerance
You return to prop trading with proven strategy

Once you're consistently profitable on your own account (3+ months of net positive results), restart an AquaFutures evaluation. You'll pass much faster because you've already developed discipline.

For a full breakdown of evaluation requirements, see the evaluation rules guide.

Final Thoughts: Each Reset Is a $114-$228 Lesson

Every time you breach and restart, you're paying $114-$228 for a lesson. Make it worth the cost.

Don't restart automatically. Analyze what went wrong, create a prevention plan, and implement it on your next attempt. If you breach from the same mistake twice, you didn't learn the lesson—you just repeated the tuition.

Most traders pass by Attempt 2-3. If you're on Attempt 4-5, something fundamental needs to change: position sizing, strategy, risk tolerance, or maybe prop trading isn't your path.

But if you learn from each breach, each restart gets you closer to funded. The question is: are you learning, or are you repeating?

Frequently Asked Questions

How do I reset my AquaFutures account after breaching?

AquaFutures doesn't offer discounted resets. When you breach, purchase a new evaluation subscription ($114-$196/month depending on account type) through your account dashboard. Your new evaluation starts from scratch—$0 profit, 0 win days, fresh drawdown threshold.

Does AquaFutures offer reset discounts like other firms?

No. AquaFutures uses a subscription model rather than reset fees. If you breach, your next month's payment ($114 Beginner or $196 Standard) starts a fresh evaluation. Some firms offer $99-$150 reset fees, but AquaFutures doesn't have this option.

What carries over when I reset after a breach?

Nothing. Your profit progress, win days, trade history, and high water mark all reset to zero. The only thing that carries over is your experience and lessons learned. Each new evaluation starts completely fresh.

Should I choose a smaller account size after breaching?

Probably not. The profit target scales proportionally (6% regardless of size), so a $25K account isn't actually easier than $50K. Fix your discipline or position sizing instead of downsizing. Exception: If you consistently hit $1,800 but can't reach $3,000, $25K's $1,500 target might help.

How much do multiple resets cost?

Each attempt costs $114-$196/month × however many months it takes. Two 2-month attempts = $456-$784 total. Most traders pass by Attempt 2-3 ($456-$684). If you're on Attempt 5+ ($1,000+), re-evaluate whether prop trading is the right path.

Can I switch to Instant funded after multiple evaluation breaches?

You can, but Instant accounts have stricter rules (20% consistency vs 40%, 7 win days vs 5, 2% wave stop). If you're struggling to pass evaluations, Instant will likely be harder—not easier. Only switch if you consistently reach $1,500-$2,500 but breach before $3,000.

Should I restart immediately after breaching?

No. Take 24-48 hours to analyze what caused the breach. Trading emotionally after a breach leads to quick re-breaches. Identify the specific mistake (position sizing? revenge trading? news event?), create a prevention plan, then restart with new rules.

How many attempts before I should give up on prop trading?

Attempts 1-2 are normal learning curve. Attempts 3-4 should show improvement (breaching at higher profits). Attempt 5+ without progress suggests you need significant strategy changes, coaching, or should consider trading personal capital first to develop consistency without evaluation pressure.