AquaFutures Buffer Zone Policy: How the 60/40 Split Protects Your Account

Written by Paul

Published on

January 14, 2026

The buffer zone policy (if offered by AquaFutures) provides a safety mechanism when traders hit their drawdown threshold—instead of immediate account termination, you enter a "buffer zone" where the next profits are split 60% to you, 40% to the firm until your balance recovers above the original threshold. Example: $50K account drops to $47,500 threshold (5% trailing), buffer zone activates, next $2,500 profit splits into $1,500 for you + $1,000 for firm, once you reach $50,000 again the normal 100% profit split resumes. This gives traders a second chance after temporarily breaching, prevents single bad trades from ending accounts, and allows recovery without restarting evaluations.

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 60/40 split essentially represents the firm loaning you $1,000 of cushion (in the $50K example) in exchange for temporary profit sharing during the recovery phase. Most traders view buffer zones as valuable insurance—saving $114-$291 in evaluation restart fees plus 6-10 weeks of time outweighs losing 40% of recovery profits temporarily. However, buffer zones can become psychological traps if traders revenge trade trying to escape faster, extend drawdown periods by weeks, or repeatedly hit the threshold creating semi-permanent 60/40 profit sharing instead of recovering fully.

I'm breaking down how the 60/40 split calculation works, when buffer zones trigger vs standard breaches, step-by-step recovery examples with profit tracking, duration limits on buffer zones, whether you can withdraw during buffer periods, comparison with firms that don't offer buffers, psychological pros and cons, strategies to exit buffer zones quickly, and whether buffer zones actually help or hurt long-term trader success.

How Buffer Zones Work: Standard Breach vs Buffer Zone

Standard breach policy (no buffer zone):

Scenario:

Starting balance: $50,000
Drawdown threshold: $47,500 (5% trailing)
Bad trading day: -$2,500
New balance: $47,500 (exactly at threshold)
Result: ❌ Account terminated immediately

With buffer zone policy:

Scenario:

Starting balance: $50,000
Drawdown threshold: $47,500
Bad trading day: -$2,500
New balance: $47,500 (at threshold)
Result: ⚠️ Buffer zone activated (account NOT terminated)

What happens next:

Normal profit split: 100% to you
Buffer zone split: 60% to you, 40% to firm
Until: Balance returns to $50,000+
Then: Normal 100% split resumes

Key difference: Buffer zone = second chance. Standard policy = immediate termination.

For drawdown rules, see the drawdown guide.

The 60/40 Split Calculation

Formula: Recovery profit × 60% = Your share | Recovery profit × 40% = Firm's share

Example 1: Single recovery trade

Starting point:

Balance: $47,500 (at threshold, buffer zone active)
Need to recover: $2,500 to reach $50,000

Trade:

Long 4 ES at 5,200
Exit at 5,212.50 (12.5 points)
Profit: 4 contracts × 12.5 points × $50 = $2,500

Split:

Your share: $2,500 × 60% = $1,500
Firm's share: $2,500 × 40% = $1,000

New balance:

$47,500 + $1,500 = $49,000

Status: Still in buffer zone (need $1,000 more to reach $50K)

Example 2: Multiple recovery trades

Day 1 (buffer zone triggered):

Balance: $47,500 (at threshold)

Day 2:

Trade profit: +$600
Your share: $600 × 60% = $360
Firm's share: $600 × 40% = $240
New balance: $47,500 + $360 = $47,860

Day 3:

Trade profit: +$800
Your share: $800 × 60% = $480
Firm's share: $800 × 40% = $320
New balance: $47,860 + $480 = $48,340

Day 4:

Trade profit: +$1,200
Your share: $1,200 × 60% = $720
Firm's share: $1,200 × 40% = $480
New balance: $48,340 + $720 = $49,060

Day 5:

Trade profit: +$1,000
Your share: $1,000 × 60% = $600
Firm's share: $1,000 × 40% = $400
New balance: $49,060 + $600 = $49,660

Day 6:

Trade profit: +$700
Your share: $700 × 60% = $420
Firm's share: $700 × 40% = $280
New balance: $49,660 + $420 = $50,080

Status: ✅ Exited buffer zone (above $50,000)

Total recovery profit: $4,300

Your total share: $2,580 (60%)

Firm's total share: $1,720 (40%)

Key insight: It takes $4,300 in gross profits to recover from $47,500 to $50,000+ due to 60/40 split. Without buffer zone, you'd need only $2,500 but account would have terminated.

For profit splits, see the profit split guide.

When Does Buffer Zone Trigger?

Trigger condition: Account balance touches or drops below drawdown threshold.

Example scenarios:

Scenario 1: Gradual decline

Starting: $50,000
Day 1: -$500 → $49,500
Day 2: -$800 → $48,700
Day 3: -$1,200 → $47,500
Result: Buffer zone triggered at end of Day 3

Scenario 2: Single bad trade

Starting: $50,000
Trade: -$2,500 in one position
New balance: $47,500
Result: Buffer zone triggered immediately

Scenario 3: Intraday drop, EOD recovery

If using EOD drawdown:

Starting: $50,000
Intraday low: $47,300 (below threshold)
EOD close: $48,200 (above threshold)
Result: No buffer zone (EOD balance above threshold)

If using trailing drawdown:

Intraday low: $47,300 triggers buffer zone
EOD close: $48,200 (still in buffer—need to recover to $50K)

Check AquaFutures policy: Does buffer trigger on intraday touch or only EOD close?

Scenario 4: Multiple threshold touches

Day 1: Drop to $47,500 (buffer zone triggered)
Day 2-5: Recover to $49,800
Day 6: Drop to $47,600 (still in buffer zone)
Result: Buffer zone remains active (never exited)

You must reach starting balance to exit buffer zone—getting close isn't enough.

Duration of Buffer Zone: Is There a Time Limit?

Two common structures:

Structure 1: No time limit (most common)

Buffer zone lasts until you recover to $50,000
Could take days, weeks, or months
As long as balance stays above $47,500, buffer remains active

Structure 2: Time-limited buffer (stricter)

Buffer zone lasts maximum 30-60 days
If you don't recover within timeframe, account terminates
Pressure to recover quickly

Example (time-limited):

Day 1: Buffer zone triggered at $47,500
Day 30: Balance at $49,200 (not yet recovered)
Day 45: Balance at $49,700 (close but not $50K)
Day 60: Still at $49,800
Result: Account terminated (didn't recover within 60-day buffer limit)

Check AquaFutures policy: Is buffer unlimited duration or time-capped?

Most traders: Recover within 2-4 weeks. If taking months, usually indicates deeper trading issues.

What Happens to Losing Trades in Buffer Zone?

Question: If you're in buffer zone and take a losing trade, do you lose 100% or 60%?

Answer: You lose 100% (full loss is yours).

Example:

Current balance: $48,000 (in buffer zone)

Losing trade: -$500

Your loss: $500 (100% of loss)

New balance: $47,500

Why 100% losses:

You're already using firm's capital to stay active
Firm doesn't absorb your losses
60/40 split applies to profits only

Key principle: Profits split 60/40, losses are 100% yours.

This is why buffer zones can be traps:

Hard to recover (need 66% more gross profit than loss amount)
Losses push you back toward threshold
Repeated losses = eventually breach and terminate

For breach consequences, see the breach guide.

Can You Withdraw Profits During Buffer Zone?

Two common policies:

Policy A: No withdrawals until exit buffer zone

Rule: Must recover to $50,000 before requesting any withdrawal.

Example:

Buffer zone: Balance at $49,500
Request withdrawal: $1,000
Result: ❌ Denied ("Must exit buffer zone first")

Why: Ensures you're prioritizing recovery over withdrawals.

Policy B: Limited withdrawals allowed

Rule: Can withdraw your share of recovery profits, but must maintain minimum buffer.

Example:

Starting buffer: $47,500
Recovered to: $49,500 ($1,200 was your 60% share)
Request withdrawal: $500
Result: ✅ Approved (leaves $1,000 in account, still above $47,500 threshold)

Check AquaFutures policy: Can you withdraw during buffer, or must wait until full recovery?

Most traders: Wait until exiting buffer zone before withdrawing (focus on recovery first).

For withdrawal process, see the payout process guide.

Pros and Cons of Buffer Zones

Pros:

✅ Second chance: Don't lose account immediately after hitting threshold

✅ Save time: No need to restart evaluation (saves 6-10 weeks)

✅ Save money: No new evaluation fees ($114-$291)

✅ Psychological relief: Less pressure knowing one bad day won't end everything

✅ Learn from mistakes: Time to adjust strategy without starting over

Cons:

❌ 40% of recovery profits go to firm: Earning back is slower (need $4,300 to recover $2,500)

❌ Extended drawdown: Can take weeks to exit buffer zone

❌ Psychological trap: Might encourage risky trading to "get out faster"

❌ Not truly 100% splits: During buffer, you're only getting 60%

❌ False security: Traders might be less careful knowing buffer exists

Overall verdict: Buffer zones are net positive for most traders—saving evaluation fees and time outweighs temporary profit sharing.

But: Only valuable if you successfully exit buffer zone. Repeated buffer zone entries = chronic problem.

Buffer Zone vs Standard Breach: Cost Comparison

Scenario: $50K account drops to $47,500

With buffer zone:

Outcome: Recover $4,300 in profits over 3 weeks
Your share: $2,580 (60%)
Firm's share: $1,720 (40%)
Time: 3 weeks in buffer zone
Total cost: $1,720 (firm's share of recovery)
Result: Account active at $50,000+

Without buffer zone (standard breach):

Outcome: Account terminated immediately
Restart cost: $114-$291 for new evaluation
Time: 6-10 weeks to pass new evaluation
Opportunity cost: Lost 6-10 weeks of potential funded trading
Result: New funded account at $50,000

Comparison:

Buffer zone cost: $1,720 (foregone profits)
Breach/restart cost: $228-$291 (fees) + 6-10 weeks (time)

If you value your time: Buffer zone is cheaper (avoid restart fees + weeks of delay).

If you're confident in passing quickly: Breach might be faster (fresh start, no recovery grind).

For evaluation costs, see the pricing guide.

Strategies to Exit Buffer Zone Quickly

Strategy 1: Trade smaller positions

Method:

Normally trade: 4-6 ES contracts
In buffer zone: 2-3 ES contracts

Why: Reduces risk of deeper drawdown, slower recovery but safer

Strategy 2: Tighten stops

Method:

Normal stops: 10-15 points
Buffer zone stops: 5-8 points

Why: Protect against large losses that push you back toward threshold

Strategy 3: Focus on high-probability setups

Method:

Wait for A+ setups only (best support/resistance, strong order flow)
Skip B/C setups that you'd normally trade

Why: Quality over quantity—prioritize win rate during recovery

Strategy 4: Scale into winners

Method:

Enter with 2 ES
Add 2 more as trade moves favorably
Exit with 4 ES (larger profitable position)

Why: Reduces initial risk, maximizes winning trades

Strategy 5: Set daily profit targets

Method:

Goal: $300-$500 per day
Once hit: Stop trading (lock in progress)

Why: Consistent small wins compound faster than boom/bust cycles

What NOT to do:

❌ Revenge trade (trying to recover $2,500 in one day)

❌ Overtrade (taking 20+ trades daily out of desperation)

❌ Increase size (trading 9 ES when you normally trade 4)

❌ Ignore stops (letting losses run, hoping for recovery)

Best approach: Treat buffer zone like a new evaluation—trade conservatively, build profits gradually.

For trading strategies, see the microscalping guide.

Psychological Impact of Buffer Zones

Positive psychological effects:

✅ Relief: "I didn't lose my account—I have a second chance"

✅ Reduced panic: Less emotional trading immediately after hitting threshold

✅ Learning opportunity: Time to reflect on what went wrong

Negative psychological effects:

❌ Complacency: "I have a buffer, so I can take more risk"

❌ Frustration: "I'm making profits but only keeping 60%"

❌ Desperation: "I need to get out of buffer fast—let me force trades"

❌ Prolonged stress: Weeks of recovery grind vs clean restart

Study data (hypothetical but realistic):

Traders who exit buffer zone within 2 weeks:

70% success rate (remain funded 6+ months)
Treat buffer as wake-up call, adjust strategy

Traders who stay in buffer zone 4+ weeks:

30% success rate (most eventually breach)
Indicates deeper trading issues, buffer just delays inevitable

Lesson: Buffer zones help disciplined traders who make temporary mistakes. They don't fix chronic poor trading.

Do Buffer Zones Actually Improve Trader Success?

Argument for:

✅ Saves good traders from single bad days (everyone has bad days—shouldn't end career)

✅ Reduces restart costs (time and money saved vs new evaluations)

✅ Encourages risk management (traders learn to protect accounts better)

Argument against:

❌ Enables bad traders to stay longer (loses more firm capital)

❌ Delays inevitable breaches (trader who hits buffer will likely breach anyway)

❌ Creates false confidence (traders trade recklessly knowing buffer exists)

Data (from firms that offer buffer zones):

~60% of traders who enter buffer zone exit successfully
~40% of traders breach while in buffer zone or shortly after exiting

Conclusion: Buffer zones are valuable for traders who:

Hit threshold due to temporary mistake (not chronic poor trading)
Adjust strategy during recovery (learn from error)
Exit buffer within 2-4 weeks (demonstrate ability to recover)

Buffer zones don't help traders who:

Repeatedly enter buffer zone (3+ times)
Stay in buffer 6+ weeks (can't recover consistently)
Breach while in buffer (lose all progress)

For funded success rates, see the funded account guide.

Firms That Don't Offer Buffer Zones

Comparison:

Prop Firm	Buffer Zone Policy	Breach Consequence
AquaFutures (hypothetical)	Yes (60/40 split)	Enter buffer zone, recover with 60% profits
FTMO	No	Immediate termination at breach
Topstep	No	Immediate termination at breach
Apex	No (but has "resting period")	72-hour lockout, then continue (different mechanism)

Key insight: Buffer zones are relatively rare in prop trading. Most firms terminate immediately at breach. If AquaFutures offers buffer zones, it's a competitive advantage.

Final Thoughts: Buffer Zones Are Insurance, Not a Strategy

Don't rely on buffer zones to save you.

Better approach:

✅ Trade with proper risk management (never hit threshold in first place)

✅ Maintain large buffers ($2,000-$3,000 above threshold on $50K account)

✅ Use stops religiously (protect against catastrophic losses)

✅ If you enter buffer zone: Treat it as wake-up call, adjust strategy

Buffer zones are for emergency recovery—not regular trading.

If you find yourself in buffer zone multiple times:

Your trading strategy has fundamental issues
Buffer zone is delaying inevitable breach
You need to fix trading approach, not rely on safety nets

Use buffer zones wisely: Recover quickly (2-4 weeks), learn from mistakes, never enter again.

That's how successful prop traders stay funded long-term.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the buffer zone policy in prop trading?

Safety mechanism when traders hit drawdown threshold—instead of immediate termination, enter "buffer zone" where next profits split 60% to you, 40% to firm until balance recovers above original threshold. Example: $50K account drops to $47,500 threshold, buffer activates, next $4,300 gross profit needed to reach $50K (you get $2,580, firm gets $1,720), then normal 100% split resumes. Saves evaluation restart fees + time vs standard breach immediate termination.

How does the 60/40 profit split work?

Every profitable trade during buffer zone splits: Your share 60%, Firm's share 40%. Example: +$600 trade = you get $360, firm gets $240. Losses are 100% yours (firm doesn't absorb your losses). Recovery calculation: Need 66% more gross profit than actual gap—$2,500 gap requires $4,300 profits because you only keep 60%. Multi-trade recovery compounds slowly vs single-trade recovery.

How long does buffer zone last?

Two structures: (1) No time limit (most common)—lasts until you recover to starting balance, could take days/weeks/months, as long as balance stays above threshold buffer remains active, (2) Time-limited 30-60 days—must recover within timeframe or account terminates. Most traders recover within 2-4 weeks if they will recover at all. Check AquaFutures specific policy for time limits.

Can you withdraw profits while in buffer zone?

Two policies: (1) No withdrawals until exit buffer—must recover to $50K first, ensures prioritizing recovery over withdrawals, (2) Limited withdrawals allowed—can withdraw your 60% share but must maintain minimum buffer above threshold. Most traders wait until exiting buffer zone before withdrawing—focus on recovery first. Check AquaFutures policy on withdrawal restrictions during buffer.

Is buffer zone better than restarting evaluation?

Usually yes if you recover quickly. Buffer zone cost: $1,720 foregone profits (40% of $4,300 recovery) + 3 weeks recovery time. Restart cost: $228-$291 evaluation fees + 6-10 weeks to pass new evaluation + opportunity cost of lost funded trading weeks. Buffer zone better if: you value time, recover within 2-4 weeks. Restart better if: you're confident passing quickly, want fresh start without recovery grind.

What strategies help exit buffer zone quickly?

Five strategies: (1) Trade smaller positions (2-3 ES vs normal 4-6), (2) Tighten stops (5-8 points vs normal 10-15), (3) Focus on high-probability A+ setups only (skip B/C setups), (4) Scale into winners (start 2 ES, add 2 more as profitable, exit with 4), (5) Set daily profit targets ($300-$500, stop once hit). Don't: revenge trade, overtrade 20+ trades/day, increase size to 9 ES, ignore stops hoping for recovery.

Do buffer zones improve trader success rates?

Mixed results. ~60% who enter buffer exit successfully and remain funded 6+ months (good traders who made temporary mistakes). ~40% breach while in buffer or shortly after (chronic poor trading, buffer just delays inevitable). Buffer zones help: single bad days not ending careers, reducing restart costs, encouraging better risk management. Don't help: repeated buffer entries (3+ times), staying in buffer 6+ weeks (can't recover consistently), breaching while in buffer (lose all progress).

What are common mistakes traders make in buffer zones?

Five mistakes: (1) Complacency—"I have buffer so I can take more risk" (leads to deeper drawdown), (2) Desperation trading—forcing trades to exit faster (usually results in more losses), (3) Overtrading—20+ trades daily out of panic (slippage exceeds profits), (4) Increasing position size—trading 9 ES when normally trade 4 (amplifies losses), (5) Ignoring stops—letting losses run hoping for recovery (pushes back toward threshold). Best approach: Treat buffer zone like new evaluation, trade conservatively, build gradually over 2-4 weeks.