Large crystals of the molecular sieves AlPO4-5, SAPO-5, and MeAPO-5 (with Me=Cr, Fe, Mg, Zn) have been grown hydrothermally. MgAPO-5 crystals were obtained up to a length of 1700 mu m. Starting from a standard synthesis procedure, the influence of seeding and addition of ethanol to the synthesis gel was investigated. (31)PMAS NMR spectra of the as-synthesized samples showed unusual peak intensities suggesting an effect of the template molecules on the phosphorus resonance.