AquaFutures FAQ: 75 Questions Answered (2026 Guide)

Written by Paul

Published on

January 9, 2026

This is the complete FAQ for AquaFutures prop trading. I've organized 75 questions into logical sections so you can find what you need without scrolling through walls of text.

If you're evaluating whether AquaFutures is right for you, start with Account Types. If you're already trading an eval, jump to Evaluation Rules or Risk Management. If you're funded, go straight to Funded Accounts & Payouts.

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.

Account Types & Choosing

1. What account types does AquaFutures offer?

AquaFutures offers four main account types: Beginner evaluation ($114/month, 6% profit target, EOD drawdown), Standard evaluation ($196/month, 8% profit target, intraday drawdown), Instant funded ($291 one-time, skip eval, 20% consistency), and Instant Pro ($239 one-time, 15% consistency, 24-hour payouts). For detailed comparisons, see the Beginner and Standard account guides.

2. Which account should I start with?

Start with the Beginner account unless you need 15 contracts or you're a tight-stop scalper. The 6% profit target is easier than Standard's 8%, the EOD drawdown tracking is more forgiving, and it costs $82/month less. Most traders pass Beginner faster and cheaper.

3. What's the difference between Beginner and Standard accounts?

Beginner: $114/month, 6% target, 6-9 contracts, EOD trailing drawdown, 2.5% daily loss limit. Standard: $196/month, 8% target, 15 contracts, intraday trailing drawdown, no daily loss limit. Standard is 33% harder (higher target) and requires tighter execution (intraday tracking). Full comparison here.

4. Can I switch from Beginner to Standard mid-evaluation?

No. Once you start an evaluation, you're locked into that account type. If you breach a Beginner account, you can start a Standard account when you restart—but you'll pay the $196/month fee for a fresh eval. You can't upgrade or downgrade mid-eval.

5. What are Instant funded accounts?

Instant funded accounts skip the evaluation entirely. You pay $291 one-time, you're funded immediately, and you can withdraw after 7 win days. Trade-offs: stricter consistency rule (20% vs 40%), higher win day requirement (7 vs 5), $500 minimum withdrawal. Best for already-profitable traders who don't want to grind evaluations.

6. Should I choose Instant or Instant Pro?

Choose regular Instant unless you're a precision scalper with extremely tight daily gains. Instant Pro is cheaper upfront ($239 vs $291) but significantly harder—15% consistency rule means you need 7-10 winning days minimum, and intraday drawdown tracking requires tight stops. Most traders are better served by regular Instant.

7. What are giveaway accounts?

Giveaway accounts are free promotional funded accounts from contests, affiliate raffles, or Discord giveaways. They're real capital with real payouts, but they're temporary (30-90 day expiration), typically $25K-$50K only, and have 80% profit splits vs 90-100% on purchased accounts. Use them as no-risk platform testing before buying a paid account.

8. Can I have multiple accounts at once?

Yes. You're limited to 3 funded accounts total across all AquaFutures account types, but evaluations don't count toward that limit. You could have 3 funded $50K accounts plus 2 evaluations in progress. Most traders focus on passing one account at a time before adding more.

Account Sizes & Costs

9. What account sizes are available?

$25K, $50K, $100K, and $150K across all account types. All sizes cost the same monthly fee ($114 for Beginner, $196 for Standard). Profit targets scale proportionally: $25K requires $1,500 (6%), $50K requires $3,000, $100K requires $6,000, $150K requires $9,000. Full comparison here.

10. Which account size should I choose?

Choose $50K unless you have a specific reason not to. It's the sweet spot: realistic $3,000 target (6-8 weeks for most traders), solid $2,500 drawdown cushion, matches standard personal account sizes. Choose $25K if you want to pass quickly. Choose $100K only if you regularly trade 7-9 contracts and can hit $6,000 in 10-12 weeks.

11. Is a $150K account worth it?

No—not for most traders. The $150K target ($9,000) is 3x the $50K target but you get the same 9 contracts as the $100K account. At $500/week profit average, it takes 18 weeks (4.5 months) to pass—$513+ in subscription fees. Unless you're consistently making $750-$1,000/week, the $150K target is overkill.

12. How much does AquaFutures cost?

Beginner/Standard evaluations: $114/$196 per month (subscription, renews monthly). Instant funded: $291 one-time. Instant Pro: $239 one-time. If you pass a Beginner eval in 2 months, total cost is $228. If it takes 4 months, $456. Instant accounts cap your risk at one payment. Full pricing here.

13. Do all account sizes cost the same?

Yes. A $25K Beginner account costs the same as a $150K Beginner account—$114/month. A $50K Standard costs the same as a $100K Standard—$196/month. The monthly fee doesn't scale with size. Only the profit target and contract limits change.

14. Can I pause my subscription if I need a break?

No. AquaFutures subscriptions are monthly and non-refundable. If you cancel mid-month, you lose access to your account immediately and forfeit any progress. If you need a break, finish the current month and cancel before the next renewal—but your evaluation will be lost.

15. What happens if I breach my account?

Your account terminates immediately. On evaluations, you lose all progress and need to restart (paying another month's fee). On funded accounts, you lose the account, all buffer profits (40% holdback), and any pending payouts. You keep profits already withdrawn before the breach.

Profit Targets & Evaluation Rules

16. What are the profit targets?

Beginner/Standard evaluations: 6% (Beginner) or 8% (Standard) of your starting balance. On a $50K Beginner account, that's $3,000. On a $50K Standard account, $4,000. Instant accounts have no profit target—you're funded immediately. Full breakdown here.

17. How long does it take to pass an evaluation?

At $500/week profit average: Beginner ($3K target) takes 6 weeks, Standard ($4K target) takes 8 weeks. At $750/week: Beginner takes 4 weeks, Standard takes 5-6 weeks. Most traders average $400-$600/week, so expect 5-10 weeks on Beginner, 7-12 weeks on Standard.

18. Can I pass the evaluation in less than a month?

Yes, if you hit the profit target and meet all other requirements (5 win days, no consistency violations, no drawdown breaches). Some traders pass in 2-3 weeks. But most take 4-8 weeks because consistent trading takes time and you need multiple winning days.

19. Do I need to hit the exact profit target?

You need to hit at minimum the profit target. If the target is $3,000 and you're at $2,980, AquaFutures will reject your funding request. Most traders overshoot by $100-$300 to give themselves cushion in case of late losses or consistency rule issues.

20. What happens if I hit the target but then lose money?

If you drop below the target, you need to trade back above it before requesting funding. Example: You hit $3,100, lose $400, drop to $2,700. You're below the $3,000 target—you need to keep trading to get back above $3K before you can submit a funding request.

21. Can I keep trading after hitting the profit target?

Yes, but it's risky. The more you trade past the target, the more you expose yourself to drawdown violations. Once you're 10-20% over the target, stop trading and request funding. Some traders breach at $4,500 trying to push for $5,000.

22. What is the minimum trading days requirement?

You need 5 profitable trading days (win days) before requesting your first payout on evaluation-based accounts, or 7 win days on Instant accounts. Days where you break even or lose don't count—but they don't reset your counter either. After your first payout, there's no ongoing win day requirement. Full details here.

23. What counts as a winning day?

Any day where you close with a net profit, no matter how small. A $10 winning day counts the same as a $1,000 winning day. Break-even days ($0) don't count. Losing days don't count—but they don't reset your counter either.

24. Can I trade just to accumulate win days?

Yes. Many traders hit their profit target in 3-4 big days, then trade 1-2 contracts for small gains ($50-$100) just to accumulate the remaining win days. Just be careful not to breach your drawdown while "padding" for win days.

25. Do losing days reset my win day counter?

No. If you have 4 win days and then a losing day, you still have 4 win days. The counter only increases (winning days) or stays the same (losing/break-even days). It never decreases.

Drawdown Rules & Risk Management

26. What is the max drawdown at AquaFutures?

5% across all account types and sizes. On a $50K account, that's $2,500. Your drawdown is measured from your highest account balance (high water mark), not your starting balance. It's a trailing drawdown—moves up with profits, never down. Full explanation here.

27. What's the difference between EOD and intraday drawdown?

EOD (end-of-day) drawdown updates once per day at 4pm ET. Intraday swings don't count—only your closing balance matters. Intraday drawdown updates in real-time, tick-by-tick. Every intraday low counts. EOD is more forgiving—you can hold through volatility. Intraday requires tight stops. Beginner uses EOD, Standard uses intraday. Comparison here.

28. Can I breach my drawdown intraday on a Beginner account?

No—not from the max drawdown rule. Beginner accounts use EOD trailing drawdown, which only updates at 4pm ET. But you can breach the 2.5% daily loss limit intraday, which is a separate rule. You need to stay above both thresholds.

29. How do I calculate my current drawdown threshold?

Formula: High Water Mark - (Starting Balance × 5%). Example: You start with $50K. You make $3,000 (high water mark: $53,000). Your threshold is $53,000 - $2,500 = $50,500. You can lose $2,500 from your high water mark before breach.

30. Does my drawdown reset when I withdraw profits?

No. Your high water mark stays the same even after withdrawals. Example: You hit $60K, withdraw $5K. Your balance is $55K, but your threshold is still $57,500 (based on $60K high water mark). This is why some traders breach shortly after withdrawing.

31. What is the daily loss limit?

2.5% of your original starting balance on Beginner accounts only. On a $50K account, that's $1,250 per day. If you hit -$1,250 at any point during the session, you breach immediately—even if you recover by close. Standard accounts have no daily loss limit. Full details here.

32. Does the daily loss limit reset each day?

Yes, at 4pm ET. But the limit is always calculated from your original starting balance ($50K), not your current balance—even if you've made profits. Your threshold is always: Original Balance - $1,250 = $48,750 on a $50K account.

33. Can I recover from a daily loss violation?

No. Daily loss breaches are immediate and irreversible. If your equity drops 2.5% below your starting balance intraday, your account terminates—even if you would have recovered by close.

34. What is wave stop?

Wave stop is a 2% floating loss limit on funded accounts only. If your account equity drops 2% below your starting balance at any point during the session, you breach immediately. It resets daily based on your closing balance. Wave stop replaces the daily loss limit once you transition to funded. Full explanation here.

35. How is wave stop different from the daily loss limit?

Wave stop (2%) is stricter than the daily loss limit (2.5%). Wave stop is a floating limit that resets daily based on your closing balance—as your account grows, wave stop grows proportionally. The daily loss limit is fixed based on your original starting balance and never changes.

Consistency Rule

36. What is the consistency rule?

No single trading day can contribute more than a certain percentage of your total profit: 40% on evaluations, 20% on Instant accounts, 15% on Instant Pro. If you make $3,000 total but $1,500 came from one day (50%), you've violated the rule—even if you hit the profit target. Full breakdown here.

37. How do I calculate my consistency percentage?

Formula: (Single Day Profit / Total Profit) × 100. Example: You made $1,200 on your best day and $3,000 total. $1,200 / $3,000 = 40%—right at the limit on Beginner accounts. If your total is $3,600, that $1,200 day is only 33%—safe margin.

38. Can I violate the consistency rule on a funded account?

Technically yes, but AquaFutures enforces it less strictly on funded accounts. During evaluations, violations are flagged immediately. On funded accounts, they're reviewed manually and only enforced if you're clearly abusing the system (one massive bet, immediate withdrawal).

39. What happens if I violate the consistency rule?

AquaFutures flags your account and blocks payout requests. In most cases, you can fix it by trading more days to dilute the big day's percentage. If you can't fix it without breaching your drawdown, the evaluation ends.

40. Can I "fix" a consistency violation?

Yes—by trading more days and diluting the big day's percentage. Example: You made $3,000 total, one day was $1,500 (50% violation). Trade 3 more winning days for $1,500 total. Now your total is $4,500, and the $1,500 day is 33%—under the 40% limit.

41. Do losing days count toward my consistency calculation?

No. Only winning days count. Losing days don't help you—they just reduce your total profit, which makes your winning days a higher percentage of the total.

42. Why does Instant Pro have a 15% consistency rule?

Instant Pro is designed for true grinders who make small consistent daily gains. The 15% rule forces you to spread profits over 7-10+ winning days. If you make 50% of your profits in 2-3 big days, Instant Pro will be frustrating.

Contract Limits & Position Sizing

43. What are the contract limits?

Beginner: 6 contracts ($25K/$50K) or 9 contracts ($100K/$150K). Standard: 15 contracts (all sizes). Instant/Instant Pro: Same as Beginner depending on size. These are max simultaneous contracts—you can't hold more than this at any time. Full guide here.

44. Can I trade more than the contract limit if I'm scaling in/out?

No. The limit is max contracts held at any time. If the limit is 6 and you're holding 6 ES, you can't open any more positions until you close some. You can't "ladder" 3 entries of 3 contracts each if it puts you over 6 total.

45. Does the contract limit apply per instrument or total?

Total across all instruments. If the limit is 6, you can't hold 6 ES + 6 NQ at the same time. You could hold 3 ES + 3 NQ (6 total), but not more than 6 contracts combined.

46. How much can I make per point with different contract sizes?

ES: $50 per point per contract. With 6 ES, that's $300/point. A 10-point move = $3,000. NQ: $100 per point per contract. With 6 NQ, that's $600/point. A 10-point move = $6,000. Position sizing matters more than contract type.

47. Should I max out my contract limit?

No. Most successful traders use 50-75% of their contract limit. If your limit is 6 ES, trade 3-4 contracts max. This gives you room for scaling into positions and prevents one bad trade from breaching your account.

Payout Process & Withdrawals

48. How do payouts work at AquaFutures?

Once you hit your profit target and meet all requirements (5 win days, consistency rule, no breaches), submit a funding request. AquaFutures reviews (24-48 hours) and activates your funded account. You trade the funded account, accumulate 5 more win days, then request your first payout. Processing takes 5-7 business days. Full process here.

49. How long does it take to get paid?

Standard payout processing: 5-7 business days after request approval. Instant Pro: 24 hours. First payouts take longer (7-10 days) because AquaFutures manually reviews new funded accounts. Subsequent payouts are faster.

50. What is the profit split?

100% on your first $15,000 of profits, then 90% on everything after. Example: You make $20,000 total. You keep $15,000 (100%) + $4,500 (90% of the remaining $5K) = $19,500 total. No profit split reductions based on account size or time.

51. What is the buffer policy?

AquaFutures holds back 40% of your profits as a buffer, which increases your effective account balance and drawdown cushion. Example: You make $5,000. You can withdraw $3,000 (60%), and $2,000 stays as buffer. Your account balance is now $52K instead of $50K.

52. How often can I request payouts?

After your first payout: weekly on standard accounts, 24 hours on Instant Pro. Before your first payout: you need 5 win days (or 7 on Instant accounts) regardless of how long it takes.

53. Is there a minimum withdrawal amount?

Yes. Standard accounts: typically $100-$500 minimum (check current terms). Instant accounts: $500 minimum. No maximum—you can withdraw your entire balance if you want (minus the 40% buffer).

54. Can I withdraw all my profits at once?

Yes, but AquaFutures will hold back 40% as buffer. If you have $10,000 in profits, you can request $6,000 (60%), and $4,000 stays as buffer to boost your account balance and drawdown cushion.

55. Do I pay taxes on AquaFutures profits?

Yes. AquaFutures issues 1099 forms (US traders) for all profits withdrawn. You're responsible for reporting and paying taxes on prop trading income. Consult a tax professional for specifics—prop trading income is typically taxed as self-employment income.

Funded Accounts

56. What changes when I transition to funded?

The daily loss limit (2.5%) is replaced by wave stop (2%). You start at 0 win days—need 5 more before your first withdrawal. Everything else stays the same: contract limits, drawdown structure (EOD or intraday), consistency rule (40%). You're trading real capital now instead of sim capital.

57. Do win days from my evaluation carry over to funded?

No. When you transition to funded, your win day counter resets to 0. You need 5 new win days on the funded account before requesting your first payout. This ensures you can trade profitably on funded capital, not just on evals.

58. Can I breach my funded account?

Yes. Funded accounts have the same drawdown rules (5% max) plus wave stop (2% intraday). If you breach either rule, your funded account terminates. You lose the account, all buffer profits, and any pending payouts. You keep profits already withdrawn.

59. What happens if I breach my funded account?

Your funded account terminates immediately. You lose access to the account and all buffer profits (40% holdback). You keep profits already withdrawn before the breach. You can start a new evaluation to replace the breached funded account—but you're starting from scratch.

60. Can I add more funded accounts?

Yes, up to 3 funded accounts total. You could pass 3 separate evaluations and have three $50K funded accounts ($150K total capital). Or mix sizes: one $50K + one $100K + one $25K. The 3-account limit applies only to funded accounts—evaluations in progress don't count.

61. Does the profit target reset on funded accounts?

No. Once you're funded, there's no profit target. You can trade indefinitely—you don't need to hit another 6% or 8% to keep the account active. Your goal is to make money and withdraw it while staying within drawdown limits.

Platform & Trading Requirements

62. What trading platforms does AquaFutures use?

AquaFutures provides access to industry-standard futures platforms (typically Rithmic or similar professional feeds). You'll trade through approved platforms with real-time data. Specific platform details are provided when you activate your account.

63. Can I use my own broker?

No. You must trade through AquaFutures' provided platform and infrastructure. You can't trade an AquaFutures account through your personal broker or platform. This ensures proper tracking of rules, drawdowns, and trade data.

64. What instruments can I trade?

AquaFutures allows futures trading across major markets: equity indexes (ES, NQ, YM, RTY), energies (CL, NG), metals (GC, SI), grains (ZC, ZS, ZW), and more. Check with AquaFutures for the complete list—most liquid futures contracts are available.

65. Can I trade options?

No. AquaFutures accounts are for futures trading only. Options, stocks, forex, and crypto are not allowed. If you try to trade non-futures products, your account may be terminated.

66. Can I hold positions overnight?

Yes, overnight positions are allowed. But they're subject to the same rules—daily loss limit (evaluations) or wave stop (funded accounts) tracks your equity 24 hours a day. If you breach overnight, you breach. Most prop traders avoid overnight positions on evaluation accounts because of this risk.

67. Can I trade during news events?

Usually yes, but AquaFutures occasionally designates prohibited times around major news (FOMC, NFP). During prohibited times, you must close existing positions and can't open new ones. Check your email for announcements. Most experienced traders close positions before major news anyway to avoid volatility risk.

68. What is the 2% price limit rule?

The 2% price limit refers to CME circuit breakers that halt trading when futures hit daily limits (typically 7%, 13%, or 20% moves on equity indexes). During a halt, you can't open or close positions. If you're holding positions when a limit triggers and it pushes you below your drawdown threshold, you breach—even though you couldn't exit. Full explanation here.

69. Are there any restricted trading strategies?

AquaFutures prohibits: tick scalping (holding for <1 second), high-frequency trading (HFT), exploiting platform latency, trading off leaked news, and any form of market manipulation. Normal trading strategies (scalping, day trading, swing trading, technical analysis, fundamentals) are all allowed.

70. Can I use automated trading or bots?

This depends on AquaFutures' current terms—check their rules before using any automated strategies. Some prop firms allow automated trading with approval, others prohibit it entirely. Manual trading is always allowed.

Common Issues & Troubleshooting

71. What if I disagree with a breach decision?

Contact AquaFutures support immediately with your account details and explanation. They'll manually review your account and trades. If the breach was a system error, they may reinstate your account. If the breach was legitimate (you hit your drawdown threshold), there's no appeal—the rules are absolute.

72. Can I get a refund if I breach my account?

No. AquaFutures subscriptions are non-refundable. If you breach on Day 2 of a new month, you've paid for that month and there's no refund. This is standard across prop firms—you're paying for access to capital, not guaranteed funding.

73. What happens if my internet goes down during a trade?

Your positions remain open and continue to move. If the move breaches your drawdown or daily loss limit, your account terminates—even if you couldn't exit due to internet issues. This is why stop losses are critical—they're executed server-side even if you lose connection.

74. Can I transfer my progress to a different account type?

No. If you're at $2,500 profit on a Beginner account and you want to switch to Standard, you need to start a new Standard eval from scratch. Progress doesn't transfer between account types. You're better off finishing your current eval than restarting.

75. How do I contact AquaFutures support?

Check the AquaFutures website for current support channels—typically email support, live chat during business hours, or a support ticket system. Response times are usually 24-48 hours for non-urgent issues, faster for urgent account issues like withdrawal problems or suspected breaches.

Final Thoughts: Most Questions Come Down to Risk Management

75% of these questions are about drawdowns, loss limits, and avoiding breaches. That's the real challenge at AquaFutures—not the profit target, not the consistency rule, but staying within your risk limits while trading for weeks or months straight.

The traders who pass evaluations and stay funded long-term are the ones who:

Trade smaller size than they think they need
Use disciplined stops and never hold hoping to recover
Close positions before major news and overnight sessions
Track their thresholds daily and trade with margin for error

If you're approaching your daily loss limit or wave stop regularly, you're trading too aggressively. The rules are there to protect you from blowing up—not as targets to aim for.

The most important FAQ item isn't on this list: Why do most traders breach? Answer: Position sizing errors, not strategy failures. Fix your position size, and most of these rules become non-issues.