AquaFutures Trading Platforms Explained: Volumetrica, Quantower & What Happened to ProjectX

AquaFutures runs on two trading platforms in 2026: Volumetrica (DeepChart) and Quantower. That's it. No NinjaTrader. No Tradovate. No TradingView integration. No Rithmic direct. And no more ProjectX — the browser-based platform that used to be AquaFutures' default is no longer available for new signups.

If you bought an AquaFutures account in late 2025, you probably traded on ProjectX. If you're buying one now, you're getting Volumetrica. This is a significant shift because Volumetrica is a professional-grade order flow platform — not the simple chart-and-DOM setup that ProjectX was. It's more powerful, but it's also more complex. And if you've never used footprint charts or volume profiles, you're looking at a steeper learning curve than most prop firms' default platforms give you.

After trading AquaFutures accounts on Volumetrica and testing the Quantower connection, here's the honest breakdown: what each platform does, how to set them up, which one fits different trading styles, and why the loss of ProjectX matters more than AquaFutures probably wants to admit.

Why I trade with AquaFutures: I've tested AquaFutures accounts, requested payouts, dealt with their support team, and verified the 48-hour payout guarantee firsthand. This assessment is based on real money in, real money out—not speculation.

That said, no prop firm is perfect. AquaFutures has strengths (fast payouts, clean rule set, no hidden restrictions) and weaknesses (tight trailing drawdown on Instant, strict 15% consistency on Instant Pro) that I've documented honestly. For a complete breakdown of their account tiers, pricing, rules, and what to expect at each stage, read my complete AquaFutures review. For the absolute latest, check AquaFutures' website or their help center.

What Happened to ProjectX?

Let's address this first because it affects anyone comparing AquaFutures to other futures prop firms.

ProjectX used to be AquaFutures' default trading platform. It was browser-based, worked on any device, had a clean chart-and-DOM layout, and required zero learning curve. You could buy an AquaFutures account and be placing trades within 10 minutes. Many firms in the futures space still use ProjectX as their primary platform — it's popular at firms like Apex Trader Funding and others because it's simple and reliable.

AquaFutures has closed ProjectX for new signups. As of early 2026, Volumetrica is the only platform available when you purchase a new account. Existing traders who still have active ProjectX credentials may be able to continue using them, but all new accounts are issued Volumetrica credentials.

Why does this matter? Because ProjectX was AquaFutures' beginner-friendly entry point. It was the platform you could recommend to someone who'd never used anything beyond TradingView. Volumetrica, as powerful as it is, doesn't fill that same role. It's an order flow platform built for traders who know what footprint charts, delta profiles, and volume-at-price mean.

This makes AquaFutures' platform stack more niche than before. If you're an experienced futures trader comfortable with professional tools, this is arguably an upgrade. If you're new to futures or come from a price-action-only background, the learning curve just got steeper.

Platform Overview: What You're Working With

Both platforms connect to the same execution infrastructure, both are free with your AquaFutures account, and both enforce the same trading rules (contract limits, drawdown, payout requirements — none of that changes based on platform choice).

The credentials you receive after purchasing any AquaFutures account include a platform link, username, and password. Exchange regulations require single-session logins — you can only be connected to one platform at a time. If you log into Quantower, your Volumetrica session disconnects, and vice versa.

Volumetrica (DeepChart): The New Default Platform

Volumetrica is now AquaFutures' primary — and for new purchases, only — platform. Whether you're trading a Beginner evaluation, an Instant Pro funded account, or anything in between, Volumetrica is what you'll be logging into.

What Volumetrica Actually Is

Volumetrica is a professional-grade futures trading platform built by the team behind DeepChart. Its core DNA is order flow analysis — showing you not just where price went, but how it got there. Who was aggressive at each price level? Where did large orders absorb selling? At what prices did volume cluster? Where are iceberg orders hiding?

Unlike the simple chart-and-DOM setup that ProjectX offered, Volumetrica gives you institutional-style market transparency. That's powerful for traders who use this information — and overwhelming for traders who don't.

The platform runs in two modes: a desktop application optimized for Windows, and a browser-based interface (DeepChart) that works on Mac and other systems. For AquaFutures, you access it through your trader dashboard or via the direct link in your credentials email.

Key Features for Prop Traders

Footprint charts are Volumetrica's signature tool. Every bar breaks down into bid/ask volume at each price level. You can see exactly where buyers were aggressive, where sellers absorbed buying pressure, and where delta (the difference between buying and selling volume) shifted. If you trade off these patterns — absorption, exhaustion, trapped traders — Volumetrica renders them clearly.

Volume profile tools go beyond standard implementations. Daily, weekly, composite, and delta profiles highlight the price levels where the most trading occurred. Point of control, value area high/low, and volume gaps are all visualized in high resolution. The platform can construct pseudo profiles spanning years of data, which is useful for identifying long-term structural levels.

Heatmap visualization shows where limit orders are stacking in the order book. This is a real-time view of potential support and resistance — not drawn on a chart from yesterday's data, but reflecting current liquidity. Useful for scalpers who need to see where resting orders might absorb their entries.

80+ indicators including volume-specific tools (delta oscillators, cumulative delta, buy/sell pressure), traditional indicators (moving averages, RSI, Bollinger Bands), and proprietary order flow metrics. You're not limited to order flow — standard charting tools work fine too.

Built-in trade copier is a genuine advantage for multi-account traders. AquaFutures allows up to 3 active funded accounts simultaneously, and copy trading between your own funded accounts is permitted. Volumetrica's trade copier handles this natively — no third-party software, no additional subscriptions. Set it up once, and trades replicate across accounts automatically.

Performance analytics with detailed trade reports: win rate, risk/reward ratios, P&L curves, and session breakdowns. Helpful for tracking whether you're staying within AquaFutures' consistency rule thresholds before requesting a payout.

OCO and bracket orders with server-side execution, customizable brackets, break-even automation, and trailing stops (both client-side and server-side). The order management is noticeably more sophisticated than what ProjectX offered.

Risk management controls let you cap daily losses per trade or total, enforcing your own risk limits on top of AquaFutures' account-level rules. If you know you should stop at -$200/day but struggle with discipline, the platform can enforce it for you.

Volumetrica Setup for AquaFutures

After purchasing your AquaFutures account, you'll receive an email with your login credentials and a link to the Volumetrica platform. You can also access it through the AquaFutures trader dashboard.

Step one is logging in with the provided credentials. On first login, you'll select your trading interface and accept platform agreement documents. There's a professional vs. non-professional user classification here — read the guide carefully, as it relates to exchange data feed regulations. AquaFutures covers data costs, but the exchange still requires the declaration. This step is only needed during your first Volumetrica account setup.

Once you're in the dashboard, the setup process involves configuring your workspace: select instruments you trade (ES, NQ, CL, GC, etc.), set up chart types (footprint, volume profile, standard candlestick — your choice), configure the DOM ladder, and add any indicators you use.

Save your workspace layout once configured. Volumetrica lets you save different layouts for different trading styles or sessions — a scalping layout with footprint + DOM, a swing layout with volume profiles + daily charts, etc. Switch between saved layouts instantly without reconfiguring.

The Learning Curve — Be Honest About This

Here's where I need to level with you. If you've been trading on Tradovate, TradingView, or even NinjaTrader with standard price action methods, Volumetrica's interface will feel foreign. There are tools on the screen you've never seen before, chart types that don't look like candlesticks, and data visualizations that require specific knowledge to interpret.

If you already understand order flow — delta, absorption, exhaustion, trapped traders, volume-at-price — you'll be productive on Volumetrica within a week. The tools are intuitive once you know what you're looking at.

If you don't know what those terms mean, you have two options. First, use Volumetrica like a standard charting platform (it works fine with regular candlestick charts and traditional indicators — you can ignore the order flow tools entirely). Second, invest time learning order flow concepts before or alongside your AquaFutures evaluation. Volumetrica offers a free 15-minute delayed data feed powered by dxFeed for practice — you don't need a paid account to explore the interface.

My recommendation: Don't try to learn both Volumetrica's advanced features and AquaFutures' rules simultaneously. Start with standard charts on Volumetrica, pass your evaluation with the method you already know, then explore footprint and volume tools once you're funded and comfortable with the firm's mechanics.

Volumetrica Limitations

Desktop-focused design. While DeepChart works in-browser, the platform is optimized for desktop. If you're a Mac-only trader, the browser version works but feels less polished than the native Windows experience.

No mobile trading. Unlike ProjectX which worked on phones and tablets, Volumetrica isn't designed for mobile. You can technically open DeepChart on a tablet browser, but it's not a viable trading setup. Monitor-only at best.

Overkill for simple strategies. If you trade with a 9 EMA and VWAP on ES — which is a perfectly valid prop trading approach — Volumetrica's 80+ indicators and advanced order flow suite is unnecessary complexity surrounding a simple method.

Learning curve is real. This isn't a weekend learn. If you're new to order flow concepts, expect 2–4 weeks before the tools add value rather than confusion.

Quantower: The Advanced Alternative

Quantower is AquaFutures' second supported platform, available as an alternative to Volumetrica. It's a Windows-only desktop application with deep customization, a massive indicator library, and flexible workspace management.

How Quantower Connects to AquaFutures

Quantower connects to AquaFutures accounts using the credentials you receive after purchasing your account. Download Quantower from the official website, open the Connections menu, select the appropriate connection, enter your AquaFutures credentials, and connect.

Important: make sure you're using the correct credentials for Quantower. If you have both Rithmic and Volumetrica credentials, they are different — use the right set for the connection type you're setting up.

Once connected, Quantower shows your account balance, position limits, and all available CME instruments. Rules enforcement (drawdown, daily loss limit, contract limits) happens server-side — Quantower is just the interface.

Why Choose Quantower Over Volumetrica?

Quantower fills a specific gap. It offers 100+ indicators (the broadest library of any AquaFutures-compatible platform), advanced workspace customization with multi-monitor layouts, and a more traditional charting experience alongside its order flow tools (footprint charts, cluster charts, volume profiles).

If you're coming from NinjaTrader or MultiCharts and need a desktop platform with deep customization — multiple chart windows, indicator stacking, custom timeframes, and extensive layout management — Quantower is the closest equivalent available at AquaFutures.

It also serves traders who want order flow tools without Volumetrica's specialized interface. Quantower's footprint and volume profile tools are solid, and they sit alongside traditional charting in a more familiar package.

Quantower Setup

Download Quantower from the official website. After installation, click "Extract" when prompted. The platform launches with DXFeed selected by default.

Open the Connections menu, disconnect from any default connection, and set up the AquaFutures connection using the credentials from your email. Select the correct server and enter your login details. Once connected, your AquaFutures account details (balance, positions, order history) appear in the platform.

Setup takes 20–45 minutes depending on how much workspace customization you want. The first-time experience includes learning Quantower's panel system — everything is modular, so you drag and arrange panels (charts, DOM, account info, trade history) to build your workspace.

Quantower Trade-Offs

Windows only. No Mac support at all. If you're on Mac, Volumetrica's browser version is your only option at AquaFutures.

Support limitations. AquaFutures' support team is most fluent in Volumetrica as the primary platform. Quantower connection issues may get less focused troubleshooting from AquaFutures support — though Quantower has its own support channels.

No built-in trade copier. If you're running multiple AquaFutures funded accounts and want to copy trades, Volumetrica handles this natively. On Quantower, you'd need a third-party trade copier.

Optional paid add-ons. Quantower itself is free, but some advanced tools (exotic indicators, specialized analysis modules) cost $50–$200. None are necessary for prop trading, but they exist.

Platform-Specific Considerations for AquaFutures Rules

Your platform choice doesn't change which AquaFutures rules apply — drawdown, consistency, news restrictions, and position limits are all enforced server-side regardless of which platform you use. But platform choice affects how you manage those rules day-to-day.

Trailing Drawdown Management

On Instant and Instant Pro accounts with trailing drawdown, seeing your real-time equity peak matters. Both Volumetrica and Quantower show your current P&L, but the drawdown floor calculation happens on AquaFutures' backend. If your account shows +$800 unrealized and you close at +$500, the drawdown moved by $800 — even though your platform only shows the $500 realized.

My approach: I always have the AquaFutures trader dashboard open in a separate browser tab while trading. The dashboard shows your current drawdown floor in near-real-time. Don't rely solely on platform P&L for trailing accounts.

Volumetrica has an edge here with its built-in risk management controls — you can set a daily loss cap and a daily profit cap that the platform enforces. This is useful for maintaining consistency ratios. If you set a $450 daily profit cap on Volumetrica, the platform prevents you from exceeding it, which keeps your best day within the 15% consistency threshold on Instant Pro.

News Event Management

AquaFutures' Tier-1 news restriction requires you to be flat 2 minutes before and after major economic events. Neither Volumetrica nor Quantower has built-in news event alerts tied to AquaFutures' restricted list.

I use ForexFactory's economic calendar (the reference AquaFutures points to) and set phone alarms 5 minutes before every red-folder event. Simple, but effective. You could also use alerts on TradingView (for analysis only — execution still happens on Volumetrica/Quantower).

Position Limit Enforcement

Both platforms allow you to set maximum position sizes — and you should. Set your max order size to one contract below your account's limit. This prevents accidental over-sizing from double-clicks, failed cancellations, or scaling errors.

On Volumetrica, configure this in the risk management panel — the same place you set daily loss caps. On Quantower, set it per-connection under risk settings.

What's Missing From AquaFutures' Platform Stack

Being honest about the competitive landscape: AquaFutures' platform offering is narrower than most major futures prop firms. And with ProjectX gone, the gap widened.

No NinjaTrader. The most popular desktop platform for futures retail traders isn't available. If you've spent years building custom NinjaTrader indicators and strategies, none of that transfers to AquaFutures. This is a dealbreaker for a large segment of traders.

No Tradovate. The web-based platform used by Topstep and many other futures firms isn't supported. Tradovate traders need to learn Volumetrica or Quantower.

No TradingView integration. You can't route AquaFutures orders through TradingView. Many traders use TradingView for analysis — that's fine, just execute on Volumetrica or Quantower separately.

No browser-only simple option anymore. This is the ProjectX gap. Firms like Apex still offer ProjectX as a quick-start browser platform. AquaFutures no longer has that beginner-friendly entry point. Volumetrica's browser mode works, but it's not a "start trading in 5 minutes" experience.

No Rithmic direct. You can't connect your own Rithmic-compatible platform (like Sierra Chart or Bookmap) directly to AquaFutures.

This narrow stack is a deliberate trade-off. AquaFutures controls the execution pipeline tightly, which gives them better risk monitoring and faster issue resolution. But for traders who are loyal to a specific platform, the limited options are a real consideration when choosing a prop firm.

For context: TakeProfitTrader supports Rithmic + CQG with 20+ compatible platforms. Lucid Trading offers Tradovate, NinjaTrader, TradingView, and Rithmic direct. AquaFutures gives you two platforms — but the ones they offer are genuinely professional-grade.

My Platform Recommendation

For new AquaFutures traders, Volumetrica is the path of least resistance — it's what you'll receive credentials for, it's what AquaFutures support knows best, and it's where the firm is investing their platform development. Even if you don't plan to use order flow tools, Volumetrica works perfectly fine with standard candlestick charts and traditional indicators. You don't have to use the footprint tools just because they're there.

If you're already a Quantower user from another firm or need advanced workspace customization that Volumetrica doesn't offer, Quantower is the solid alternative. The 100+ indicator library and flexible multi-panel layouts make it the better choice for traders with complex charting setups.

If you're on Mac, Volumetrica is your only option — and the browser-based DeepChart interface handles it well.

One thing I'd push back on: don't let the platform stack alone determine whether AquaFutures is right for you. The Instant Pro account at $239 one-time with no daily loss limit, 15% consistency, 90% profit split, and 48-hour payout guarantee is a genuinely strong offering. If the only thing holding you back is the lack of NinjaTrader support, consider whether the economic terms are worth adapting to a new platform. For most traders, they are.

Don't switch platforms mid-evaluation. Pick Volumetrica or Quantower, learn it, pass the eval. The worst thing you can do is waste a week reconfiguring Quantower workspaces while your evaluation subscription keeps billing.

AquaFutures Platforms FAQ

Is ProjectX completely gone at AquaFutures?

For new purchases, yes. ProjectX signups have been closed. All new AquaFutures accounts receive Volumetrica credentials. Some traders with existing active accounts may still have ProjectX access, but it's not available for new buyers. AquaFutures has moved to Volumetrica as their primary platform.

Do I need to pay extra for Volumetrica or Quantower?

No. Both platforms are free with your AquaFutures account. No platform fees, no data feed fees, no activation costs. Quantower offers optional paid add-ons ($50–$200) for specialized tools, but none are necessary for prop trading.

Can I use Volumetrica on Mac?

Yes — through the browser-based DeepChart interface. The desktop application is optimized for Windows, but DeepChart runs in Chrome, Firefox, Safari, or Edge on Mac. Performance is good for standard trading. Intensive order flow analysis with multiple footprint charts may feel smoother on the Windows desktop version.

Can I be logged into Volumetrica and Quantower at the same time?

No. Exchange regulations require single-session logins. If you log into Quantower, your Volumetrica session disconnects. Pick one platform per trading session.

Which platform has better execution speed?

Both connect to the same infrastructure, so execution speed is effectively identical — roughly 10–50ms depending on your internet connection and distance from servers. The difference between platforms is in tools and interface, not raw execution quality.

I use NinjaTrader. Can I connect it to AquaFutures?

No. AquaFutures does not support NinjaTrader, and there's no workaround. If NinjaTrader is essential to your trading, you'll need a different prop firm. This is one of the most common reasons traders pass on AquaFutures.

What if Volumetrica disconnects during a trade?

Your positions exist server-side, not in the platform. If Volumetrica disconnects, open positions remain active. Reconnect by refreshing the browser or relaunching the desktop app — positions will be there. For emergencies, contact AquaFutures support to manually close positions.

Can I use Volumetrica's trade copier across different AquaFutures account types?

Yes, as long as you're copying between your own funded accounts. AquaFutures allows copy trading between funded accounts you own (up to 3 active at once). You can copy from Instant Pro to Instant Pro, or across different account types. Copying between evaluation and funded accounts is not allowed.

Does Volumetrica or Quantower show my AquaFutures drawdown floor?

Not directly. The platforms show current P&L and account balance, but the trailing drawdown floor calculation happens on AquaFutures' backend. Always have the AquaFutures trader dashboard open in a separate browser tab to monitor your actual drawdown position. This is critical on trailing accounts where unrealized peaks permanently move the floor.

Which platform is best for passing an AquaFutures evaluation?

Volumetrica in standard chart mode. Don't overthink this. Load candlestick charts, add your usual indicators, set up the DOM, and trade your method. The evaluation is about hitting profit targets within the rules — not about mastering advanced order flow visualization. Save the footprint deep-dive for after you're funded.

I've never used order flow tools. Is Volumetrica too advanced for me?

No — because you can use Volumetrica without touching the order flow features. Load standard candlestick charts, add traditional indicators (VWAP, moving averages, RSI), and use the DOM for order entry. The advanced tools are there when you're ready, but they're not required. Think of it like buying a car with sport mode — you can drive in normal mode indefinitely.

Should I learn Volumetrica before buying an AquaFutures account?

If you want a head start, yes. Volumetrica offers a free 15-minute delayed data feed powered by dxFeed. You can explore the entire interface, test chart configurations, and get comfortable with the layout without paying for an AquaFutures account. Recommended if you've never used anything beyond TradingView or Tradovate.

How does AquaFutures' platform stack compare to other futures prop firms?

It's narrower than most. TakeProfitTrader and Lucid Trading support 10–20+ platforms including NinjaTrader, Tradovate, and TradingView. Apex offers ProjectX and Tradovate. AquaFutures gives you Volumetrica and Quantower. The trade-off: fewer choices, but the two platforms available are genuinely professional-grade — especially Volumetrica's order flow suite, which is more advanced than what most competitors' default platforms offer.

‍