AquaFutures Scaling Plan: How to Increase Your Contract Limits

Written by Paul

Published on

January 14, 2026

AquaFutures offers account scaling once you're funded—increasing your starting balance and contract limits based on consistent profitability. Typical scaling progression: $50K (6 contracts) → $100K (9 contracts) → $200K (15 contracts). Scaling requirements generally include hitting $5,000-$10,000 profit milestones, maintaining consistency rules (no single day >40% of total), demonstrating 30-60 days of sustainable trading, and having no rule violations or significant drawdowns.

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.

Scaling happens automatically when you meet thresholds, or you can request review once you hit profit milestones. The new scaled account retains your trading history and profit (doesn't reset to zero), but your drawdown threshold adjusts to the new starting balance. Most successful traders scale 2-3 times within first year, reaching $150K-$300K in combined capital across multiple accounts rather than chasing single massive accounts.

I'm breaking down scaling requirements by account size, how the scaling process works, profit targets needed to trigger scaling, whether you lose existing profits when scaling, contract limit increases, optimal scaling strategies using multiple accounts, and why scaling 3 accounts to $100K each beats scaling 1 account to $300K.

Account Scaling Progression

Account Size	Contract Limit	Profit to Next Scale	Time Required	Next Account Size
$50,000 (Beginner)	6 ES	$5,000-$7,500	30-60 days consistent	$100,000
$100,000 (Standard)	9 ES	$10,000-$15,000	60-90 days consistent	$200,000
$200,000 (Advanced)	15 ES	$20,000-$30,000	90+ days consistent	Likely capped

Key insight: Scaling doubles account size each time, increasing contract limits by 50%. Time requirements ensure sustainable growth—not just lucky streaks.

For contract limit details, see the contract limits guide.

Scaling Requirements (Typical)

Requirement 1: Profit Milestone

Hit specific profit targets based on account size:

$50K account: $5,000-$7,500 profit to scale to $100K
$100K account: $10,000-$15,000 profit to scale to $200K

Why profit matters: Proves you can generate returns relative to account size.

Requirement 2: Consistency Rule Compliance

No single day >40% of total profit (or whatever threshold AquaFutures uses).

Example:

Total profit: $6,000 needed for scaling
Best day: $1,800
Check: $1,800 / $6,000 = 30% ✅ (under 40%)

If best day was $2,500: 41.7% ❌ (violates consistency, can't scale yet)

For consistency rules, see the consistency rule guide.

Requirement 3: Time/Sustainability

30-60 days of consistent profitable trading (not just 1-2 lucky weeks).

Why time matters: Prevents scaling based on temporary hot streaks. AquaFutures wants to see repeatability.

Example:

Week 1-4: $1,500/week profit
Week 5-8: $1,500/week profit
Total: $12,000 over 8 weeks ✅ (sustainable pattern)

vs.

Week 1-2: $0 profit
Week 3: $12,000 profit (one massive week)
Week 4-8: $0 profit
Total: $12,000 but ❌ (not sustainable, likely won't scale)

Requirement 4: No Rule Violations

Clean trading history:

Requirement 5: Drawdown Management

No significant drawdowns close to breach levels.

Example:

Starting balance: $50,000
Threshold: $47,500 (5% trailing)
Current balance: $56,000
Lowest point in last 60 days: $50,200 (never dropped below $50K)

✅ Good drawdown management (stayed well above threshold)

vs.

Lowest point: $47,600 (just $100 above breach)

⚠️ Risky trading (AquaFutures unlikely to scale)

How Scaling Process Works

Step 1: Hit Profit Milestone

Reach $5,000-$7,500 profit (for $50K → $100K scaling).

Step 2: Automatic Review OR Manual Request

Option A: Automatic (most firms)

AquaFutures system monitors accounts
When you hit thresholds, automatic review triggered
Email notification: "Your account is being reviewed for scaling"

Option B: Manual Request

You reach $6,000 profit after 45 days
Email support: "I believe I've met scaling requirements. Could you review my account?"
Support reviews within 3-7 days

Step 3: Manual Review by AquaFutures

Team checks:

Profit total ✅
Consistency rule ✅
Trading history (no violations) ✅
Drawdown management ✅
Time requirement (30-60 days) ✅

Step 4: Approval or Denial

If approved:

Email: "Congratulations! Your account has been scaled to $100K."
New starting balance: $100K
New contract limit: 9 ES
Your existing profit stays (see below)

If denied:

Email: "Your account doesn't meet scaling requirements yet. Reason: [e.g., consistency violation, insufficient time]"
Continue trading, reapply later

Step 5: Adjust to New Account

New drawdown threshold calculated (e.g., $95,000 for $100K account with 5% trailing)
New contract limits apply (9 ES instead of 6)
Dashboard updates

For funded account details, see the funded account guide.

Do You Lose Existing Profits When Scaling?

No. Your profits carry over.

Example:

Before scaling:

Starting balance: $50,000
Current balance: $57,000
Your profit: $7,000

After scaling to $100K:

New starting balance: $100,000
Current balance: $107,000
Your profit: $7,000 (carried over)

You don't start at $100,000 with $0 profit. You start at $100K + your existing profit.

Drawdown threshold adjusts:

Before scaling:

Threshold: $54,150 (5% below $57,000 high water mark)

After scaling:

New threshold: $101,650 (5% below $107,000 new high water mark)

Bottom line: Scaling increases your capital and limits, but you keep all accumulated profits.

Contract Limit Increases

Account Size	ES Contracts	Max Position (6 ES at 5,200)
$50,000	6 ES	6 × $50/point = $300/point move
$100,000	9 ES	9 × $50/point = $450/point move
$200,000	15 ES	15 × $50/point = $750/point move

Impact:

$50K account: 10-point ES move = $3,000 (6 contracts)
$100K account: 10-point ES move = $4,500 (9 contracts)
$200K account: 10-point ES move = $7,500 (15 contracts)

Scaling increases profit potential per trade by 50% each time.

For position sizing, see the mini vs micro contracts guide.

Scaling Timeline: How Fast Can You Scale?

Fastest possible: 2-3 months ($50K → $100K)

Realistic timeline:

Month 1-2: Build $6,000 profit on $50K account

Month 3: Request scaling review, approved, scaled to $100K

Month 4-6: Build $12,000 profit on $100K account

Month 7: Request scaling review, approved, scaled to $200K

Total: 7 months to go from $50K → $200K

Most traders: 12-18 months to hit $200K due to:

Time needed to prove consistency (30-60 days per scale)
Occasional drawdowns (reset progress)
Learning curve with larger positions

Aggressive traders: 6-9 months

Conservative traders: 18-24 months

Scaling vs Starting New Accounts

Option A: Scale single account

$50K → $100K → $200K
End result: 1 account at $200K (15 contracts)
Monthly profit potential: $10,000-$15,000

Option B: Multiple accounts (no scaling)

3× $50K accounts (via copy trading)
End result: 3 accounts at $50K each (18 contracts total)
Monthly profit potential: $15,000-$20,000

Option C: Hybrid (scale + multiple accounts)

3× $50K accounts
Scale each to $100K
End result: 3 accounts at $100K each (27 contracts total)
Monthly profit potential: $25,000-$35,000

Best approach: Option C (hybrid). Start with 1-2 accounts, pass evaluations, scale each account as you grow.

For copy trading details, see the copy trading guide.

Why Scaling 3 Accounts to $100K > 1 Account to $300K

Scenario 1: One massive account

1× $300K account
Contract limit: ~20 ES (estimated)
Breach risk: If you breach, you lose everything

Scenario 2: Three scaled accounts

3× $100K accounts
Contract limit: 27 ES total (9 per account)
Breach risk: If one breaches, you still have 2 active accounts

Diversification benefits:

✅ Risk spreading: Not all eggs in one basket

✅ Strategy testing: Run different strategies on each account

✅ Consistency management: Easier to avoid 40% rule violations across 3 accounts

✅ Psychological safety: Losing 1 of 3 accounts is manageable

Most successful prop traders: 3-5 accounts at $100K-$200K each, not 1 account at $500K.

Scaling Fees (If Any)

Most prop firms: No fees to scale.

Check AquaFutures policy. Typically:

✅ Free scaling (no cost to upgrade from $50K → $100K)

❌ Some firms charge (e.g., $100-$200 to scale)

If there's a scaling fee: Factor it into your profit calculation.

Example:

Profit: $7,000
Scaling fee: $200
Net profit after scaling: $6,800

For pricing details, see the pricing guide 2026.

Can You Scale Down?

No. Scaling is one-way (up).

If you scale to $100K and want to go back to $50K:

Not possible. Once scaled, you're at that size permanently.

Why?

Prop firms want traders to grow—not shrink. If you can't handle $100K, you shouldn't have been scaled.

If you breach a scaled account:

Account terminates
Start new evaluation at $50K
Prove yourself again

Bottom line: Only request scaling when you're confident you can handle larger positions.

What If You Don't Want to Scale?

You're not required to scale.

Reasons to stay at $50K:

✅ Comfortable position sizing: 6 contracts is manageable

✅ Lower stress: Smaller positions = smaller P&L swings

✅ Consistency: Easier to avoid violations with smaller size

You can request to stay at current size by emailing support: "I've hit scaling requirements but prefer to stay at $50K for now."

Most firms respect this—though they might ask why (to understand trader psychology).

Scaling Strategies

Strategy 1: Conservative scaling

Wait until you hit 120-150% of required profit ($6,000 instead of $5,000)
Ensure 60-90 days of consistency (not just 30-45)
Keep large buffer above drawdown threshold

Pros: Higher approval rate, less breach risk after scaling

Cons: Slower growth

Strategy 2: Aggressive scaling

Request review as soon as you hit minimum requirements
30 days + $5,000 profit = request scaling immediately

Pros: Faster growth, maximize profit potential

Cons: Higher risk of denial, potential breach post-scaling

Strategy 3: Multi-account scaling (optimal)

Start with 2 accounts
Scale Account 1 to $100K while Account 2 is still at $50K
Once Account 1 stable at $100K, scale Account 2
End result: 2× $100K accounts (18 contracts total)

Pros: Diversified growth, risk management, higher total capital

Cons: More complex tracking

Recommended: Strategy 3 for most traders. Scale accounts staggered for safety.

Common Scaling Mistakes

Mistake 1: Requesting scaling too early

Problem: You hit $5,000 profit in 2 weeks, immediately request scaling.

Result: Denied (insufficient time, might be luck not skill).

Fix: Wait 30-60 days to prove consistency.

Mistake 2: Scaling all accounts simultaneously

Problem: You have 3 accounts, all hit scaling requirements at once, scale all 3 to $100K.

Result: If you can't handle $300K total capital (27 contracts), you breach all 3.

Fix: Scale 1 account, trade it for 30 days, then scale next account.

Mistake 3: Trading larger positions immediately

Problem: You scale from 6 ES → 9 ES, immediately trade 9 ES on first day.

Result: Uncomfortable with size, make mistakes, breach.

Fix: Scale gradually. Trade 6-7 contracts for first week, then 8-9 once comfortable.

Mistake 4: Ignoring drawdown threshold changes

Problem: You scale from $50K to $100K, forget threshold is now $95K (not $47.5K).

Result: Think you have huge buffer, actually closer to breach than you realize.

Fix: Recalculate threshold immediately after scaling. Update tracking spreadsheet.

For drawdown tracking, see the drawdown guide.

Mistake 5: Chasing scaling instead of profits

Problem: Focused on "I need to scale" instead of "I need to trade well."

Result: Force trades to hit profit milestones, breach trying to scale.

Fix: Focus on consistent trading. Scaling happens naturally when you trade well.

Final Thoughts: Scale Smart, Not Fast

Scaling is a long-term game.

Don't rush it:

Prove consistency for 60+ days
Build large buffers ($7,000-$10,000 before requesting $50K → $100K scaling)
Master current position size before scaling

Scale multiple accounts:

3× $100K accounts > 1× $300K account
Diversification, risk management, psychological safety

Focus on the process:

Trade your strategy consistently
Profits accumulate naturally
Scaling becomes inevitable

Most funded traders scale 2-3 times in their first year—reaching $150K-$300K combined capital across 2-4 accounts.

That's the sustainable path to serious prop trading income.

Frequently Asked Questions

How do you scale your AquaFutures account?

Hit profit milestones ($5K-$7.5K for $50K → $100K), maintain consistency rule (no day >40% of total), demonstrate 30-60 days sustainable trading, have clean trading history (no rule violations), manage drawdowns well. Scaling happens automatically when you meet thresholds, or request review once you hit requirements. Process: profit milestone → review → approval → account scaled with new balance + contract limits.

Do you lose existing profits when scaling?

No. Profits carry over. Example: $50K starting balance, $57K current balance ($7K profit) → scales to $100K starting, $107K current balance ($7K profit retained). Drawdown threshold adjusts to new high water mark ($107K), but you keep all accumulated profits. Scaling increases capital and limits without resetting account.

How much profit do you need to scale?

$50K → $100K: $5,000-$7,500 profit. $100K → $200K: $10,000-$15,000 profit. Plus time requirement (30-60 days consistent trading), consistency rule compliance (no single day >40%), no rule violations, good drawdown management. Profit alone isn't enough—need sustainability proof.

How long does it take to scale from $50K to $200K?

Fastest: 6-7 months. Month 1-2 build $6K profit ($50K account), Month 3 scale to $100K, Month 4-6 build $12K profit ($100K account), Month 7 scale to $200K. Realistic: 12-18 months (time needed to prove consistency, occasional drawdowns, learning curve with larger positions). Conservative traders: 18-24 months.

What are the contract limit increases when scaling?

$50K: 6 ES contracts. $100K: 9 ES contracts (+50%). $200K: 15 ES contracts (+67%). Impact: $50K with 6 ES, 10-point move = $3,000. $100K with 9 ES, 10-point move = $4,500. $200K with 15 ES, 10-point move = $7,500. Scaling increases profit potential per trade by 50% each time.

Should you scale one account to $200K or have multiple $50K accounts?

Multiple accounts better. 3× $100K accounts (27 contracts total, $25K-$35K/month potential) beats 1× $300K account (20 contracts, $15K-$20K/month). Benefits: Risk spreading (if one breaches, have 2 others), strategy testing, easier consistency management, psychological safety. Most successful traders: 3-5 accounts at $100K-$200K each, not 1 massive account.

Can you scale down if $100K is too much?

No. Scaling is one-way (up only). Once at $100K, can't go back to $50K. If you can't handle scaled size, you breach and restart evaluation at $50K. Only request scaling when confident you can handle larger positions—don't scale just because you qualified.

Are there fees to scale your account?

Usually no. Most prop firms offer free scaling (no cost to upgrade $50K → $100K). Some firms charge $100-$200 scaling fees—check AquaFutures policy. If there's a fee, factor into profit calculation: $7,000 profit - $200 scaling fee = $6,800 net. Verify before requesting scaling.