Proper storage extends peptide shelf life dramatically. Here is the protocol used in research labs for lyophilized and reconstituted peptides, with peptide-specific stability ranges.
The choice between bacteriostatic water (0.9% benzyl alcohol) and sterile water depends on your experimental design. Multi-dose protocols need bacteriostatic; single-use protocols can use either.
A 5mg vial reconstituted with 2mL of bacteriostatic water yields 2.5 mg/mL. But the math gets trickier with blends, partial doses, and target volume calculations. Here is the working method.