AquaFutures Standard Account Overview: Trading Parameters, Fees, and Who It's Best For

The AquaFutures Standard account is designed for traders who want more aggressive profit targets and don't need a daily loss limit. If you're comfortable managing risk on your own and you trade with larger position sizes, this account gives you more room to operate—but it comes with trade-offs.

I'm breaking down the Standard account's rules, costs, and who it actually fits. This isn't the beginner-friendly option—it's built for traders who can handle a higher profit target and tighter drawdown tracking without daily safety nets.

Let's get into what makes the Standard account different and whether it's worth the extra $82 per month.

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.

What Is the AquaFutures Standard Account?

The Standard account is Aquafutures' advanced evaluation path. It requires an 8% profit target instead of 6%, has no daily loss limit, and uses intraday trailing drawdown instead of EOD tracking. You also get access to 15 contracts instead of 6-9.

This account is for traders who:

• Can hit 8% profit targets consistently
• Don't need a daily loss limit as a safety rail
• Want to trade larger position sizes (up to 15 contracts)
• Are comfortable with intraday drawdown tracking

If you're used to holding through larger intraday swings or scaling into positions, the Standard account gives you the flexibility to do that. But you're paying for it—both in monthly cost ($196/month vs $114) and in the higher profit requirement.

Standard Account Specifications

Here's how the Standard account stacks up across all account sizes:

The big differences: 8% profit target, no daily loss limit, intraday drawdown tracking, and 15 contracts max. You're also paying $196/month instead of $114.

The 8% Profit Target: Why It Matters

An 8% profit target sounds like just 2% more than the Beginner account, but in practice, it's a significant difference. On a $50K account, you need $4,000 instead of $3,000. That's an extra $1,000—roughly 3-5 additional winning days for most traders.

The higher target means more time in the market, more trades taken, and more exposure to drawdown risk. If you're averaging 1% per week, you're looking at 8 weeks to pass instead of 6. That's two extra months of paying $196/month—an additional $392 in costs.

The 8% target is manageable if you're consistently hitting 2-3% weekly returns. But if your average is closer to 1%, this account will take longer to pass than the Beginner account, and the monthly fees will add up.

No Daily Loss Limit: Freedom or Risk?

The Standard account has no daily loss limit. You could theoretically lose 4% in a single day and still be fine—as long as you stay within your 5% max drawdown.

This is huge if you're a swing trader or someone who holds through larger intraday moves. You're not getting stopped out because you hit -2.5% on a session. You can ride through volatility and recover.

But here's the catch: without a daily limit, you can also blow through your entire drawdown in one bad session. If you lose 5% in a single day, your evaluation is over. There's no reset, no second chance—you breached the account.

The lack of a daily limit rewards experienced traders who can manage risk independently. But if you're still learning position sizing or you tilt after losses, the daily limit on the Beginner account is actually a protective feature. Removing it doesn't make the Standard account "easier"—it just gives you more rope.

Intraday Trailing Drawdown: What It Really Means

The Standard account uses intraday trailing drawdown, which updates in real-time as you trade—not just at the end of the day.

Here's how it works: Let's say you start with a $50K account. Your max drawdown is $2,500. You make $1,000 on Day 1. Your new drawdown threshold is $51,000 - $2,500 = $48,500.

On Day 2, you're trading and you're down $2,000 intraday. Your account equity is now at $49,000. You're getting close to your $48,500 threshold. If you drop another $500, you breach—even if you haven't closed any trades yet.

This is different from EOD trailing drawdown on the Beginner account, where your drawdown only updates at market close. With intraday tracking, every tick matters. If you're holding a losing position and it swings against you hard, you could breach mid-session before you even get a chance to exit.

The intraday structure is tighter. It demands better entries, tighter stops, and more active management. You can't hold through a -3% intraday drawdown and hope to recover by close—your account could be breached before you get there.

15 Contracts: More Size, More Risk

The Standard account gives you access to 15 contracts across all account sizes. That's 2.5x more than the Beginner account's 6-contract limit.

On ES, 15 contracts is $750 per point. A 5-point move in your favor is $3,750. A 5-point move against you is also $3,750—which would breach a $50K account in one trade.

The higher contract limit is there for traders who scale into positions or trade multiple markets at once. But most traders don't need 15 contracts. If you're trading full size from day one without a proven edge, you're going to blow through your drawdown fast.

Smart traders start with 3-5 contracts and scale up as they build profits. The 15-contract limit is a ceiling, not a recommendation. Just because you can trade 15 doesn't mean you should.

For a breakdown of how position limits work across all AquaFutures account types, check out the contract limits guide.

Monthly Cost: $196 vs $114

The Standard account costs $196 per month—$82 more than the Beginner account. If you pass in 2 months, that's $392 total vs $228. If it takes you 4 months, you're at $784 vs $456.

The higher cost is justified if you need the features: no daily loss limit, 15 contracts, and the flexibility to trade more aggressively. But if you're not using those features—if you're trading 6 contracts or less and not holding through large intraday swings—you're paying $82/month for nothing.

Ask yourself: do I actually need 15 contracts? Do I regularly hold through -3% intraday swings and recover? If the answer is no, the Beginner account is a better value.

For a full cost comparison across all AquaFutures accounts, including instant funding options, see the pricing breakdown.

Funded Account Rules: What Changes After You Pass

Once you hit 8% profit and pass the evaluation, you transition to a funded Standard account. Here's what changes:

Buffer Zone Policy: On Standard funded accounts, AquaFutures enforces a 60/40 split on your withdrawable profits. 60% is available for withdrawal, and 40% stays in the account as a buffer. This protects both you and the firm from drawdown violations.

If you make $5,000 in funded profits, you can withdraw $3,000 and $2,000 stays as buffer. This buffer increases your effective account balance, which means your drawdown threshold trails higher. It's a safety net.

Profit Split: You keep 100% of your first $15,000 in lifetime profits, then 90% after that. Same as the Beginner account.

Win Days: You need 5 profitable trading days before you can request your first payout.

Minimum Payout: $500 minimum withdrawal on Standard funded accounts (vs $250 on Beginner accounts).

Weekly Payouts: After meeting the win day requirement, you can request payouts weekly.

For the full details on how the payout process works once you're funded, including processing times and withdrawal methods, read the complete payout guide.

Who Should Choose the Standard Account?

The Standard account fits traders who:

Trade larger position sizes. If you regularly use 10+ contracts and feel constrained by a 6-contract limit, this account gives you the room to trade your normal size.

Hold through intraday volatility. If your trading style involves holding through -2% swings and recovering by close, the lack of a daily loss limit is critical. You won't get stopped out by the daily rule.

Can hit 8% consistently. If you're averaging 2-3% per week, the 8% target is realistic. You'll pass in 4-6 weeks, and the extra cost is worth the flexibility.

Don't need daily safety rails. If you have strong risk management and you don't need a daily loss limit to keep you in check, the Standard account rewards your discipline.

This account is NOT ideal if:

• You're a newer trader still working on position sizing. The lack of a daily limit can lead to catastrophic single-session losses.
• You rarely trade more than 6 contracts. You're paying $82/month extra for contract limits you're not using.
• You struggle to hit 6% targets consistently. If 6% takes you 2-3 months, 8% will take even longer—and the costs will pile up.
• You want EOD drawdown tracking. The intraday trailing on the Standard account is less forgiving than the EOD structure on the Beginner account.

For a direct comparison between these two paths, check out Beginner vs Standard account.

Standard Account vs Instant Funding: Which Makes More Sense?

If you're debating the Standard account, you should also consider AquaFutures instant funding options. With instant funding, you skip the evaluation entirely—you pay a one-time fee and you're funded immediately.

The Standard account makes sense if:

• You want to prove you can hit 8% before risking real capital
• You prefer a monthly subscription over a larger upfront cost
• You're confident you can pass in 1-2 months

Instant funding makes sense if:

• You're already consistently profitable and you don't need an evaluation
• You want to start withdrawing profits immediately (no 8% target to hit first)
• You're willing to pay $239-$291 upfront to skip the evaluation

For most traders, the Standard account is the better path if you're still building consistency. Instant funding is for traders who are already profitable and just need capital.

Prohibited Strategies and Compliance

The Standard account follows the same compliance rules as all AquaFutures accounts:

• No microscalping (trades under 30 seconds)
• No coordinated trading across multiple accounts
• No full automation (bots/EAs banned)
• Copy trading banned during evaluations (allowed on funded accounts)

These rules exist to prevent system gaming and ensure you're actually trading—not exploiting latency or manipulating fills. AquaFutures monitors trade patterns and flags suspicious activity for manual review.

If you're flagged, they'll reach out. Most violations result in account termination without refund. For the full breakdown of what's allowed and what's not, see the prohibited strategies list.

Getting Started with the Standard Account

If the Standard account fits your trading style, here's how to get started:

1. Sign up on AquaFutures and select the Standard account option. Choose your account size ($25K-$150K).
2. Connect your trading platform. AquaFutures supports ProjectX, Quantower, and Volumetrica. Setup takes 5-10 minutes.
3. Start trading. There's no waiting period—you can start trading as soon as payment clears.
4. Monitor your stats. Use the AquaFutures dashboard to track your profit, drawdown (intraday), and consistency in real-time.
5. Pass the evaluation. Hit 8% profit without breaching the 5% max drawdown. No single day can contribute more than 40% of your total profit.
6. Get funded. Once you pass, AquaFutures contacts you to set up your funded account. After 5 win days, you can request your first payout.

For the complete walkthrough of what to expect at AquaFutures, including platform setup and payout timelines, check out the full AquaFutures review.

Final Thoughts: Is the Standard Account Worth the Extra Cost?

The Standard account is worth it if you need what it offers: higher contract limits, no daily loss limit, and the flexibility to trade through larger intraday swings. If those features align with your trading style, the extra $82/month is justified.

But if you're trading 6 contracts or less and you're not regularly holding through -2%+ intraday drawdowns, you're paying for features you don't need. The Beginner account will cost you less and might actually be easier to pass because of the lower profit target.

The 8% target is the real challenge. It's not just 2% more—it's 33% more profit required, which translates to more trading days, more market exposure, and more chances to hit a drawdown violation. If you're consistently hitting 6% targets in 4-6 weeks, the Standard account is manageable. If 6% takes you 2-3 months, stick with the Beginner path.

AquaFutures gives you the choice. The Standard account is there for traders who can handle the higher target and don't need daily safety rails. But it's not "better" than the Beginner account—it's just different. Choose based on your actual trading style, not what sounds more advanced.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is the Standard account harder to pass than the Beginner account?

Yes, the 8% profit target is harder to hit than 6%. You need roughly 33% more profit, which means more trading days and more exposure to drawdown risk. The intraday trailing drawdown is also less forgiving than EOD tracking. If you can pass the Beginner account in 4-6 weeks, expect the Standard account to take 6-8 weeks.

Can I switch from Standard to Beginner mid-evaluation?

No. Once you start an evaluation, you're locked into that account type for the duration. If you breach, you can choose a different account type when you restart, but you can't switch mid-eval.

What's the buffer zone policy on funded Standard accounts?

AquaFutures enforces a 60/40 split on withdrawable profits. 60% is available for withdrawal, 40% stays in the account as a buffer. This increases your effective account balance and gives you more drawdown cushion.

Do I really need 15 contracts, or is the Beginner account's 6-contract limit enough?

Most traders don't need 15 contracts. If you're trading ES with 6 contracts, that's $300 per point—more than enough to hit profit targets quickly. Only go for the Standard account if you regularly trade 10+ contracts or you scale into large positions.

Does the Standard account have news trading restrictions?

During evaluation, no—you can trade through any news event. Once funded, there's a 2-minute buffer around Tier-1 news events. You can hold positions through news, but you can't open new trades within 2 minutes before or after major announcements.

What happens if I lose 5% in a single day on the Standard account?

Your account is breached immediately. With no daily loss limit, you can lose up to your full 5% max drawdown in one session. This is why position sizing is critical on the Standard account—one bad trade can end your evaluation.

How does the consistency rule work with the 8% profit target?

No single trading day can account for more than 40% of your total profit. On a $50K Standard account, that's $1,600 max per day (40% of $4,000). You'll need at least 3 solid winning days to pass, and realistically 5-8 trading days to stay well under the threshold.

Is the Standard account monthly fee refundable if I pass quickly?

No. The $196/month subscription is non-refundable. If you pay for Month 1 and pass on Day 3, you're still out $196 for that month. This is why passing quickly matters—the faster you pass, the less you pay in total fees.

Your Next Steps

‍👉 Start Trading at Aquafutures Today

‍👉 Read My Full Aquafutures Review

‍👉 Check out Aquafutures´s Payout Rules