There are several lighting options that are better than t8s, but since you asked about those, that's what I shared.
Your plants will always reach for the brightest light, so if you have a mix of different lights they will usually lean that direction.
I would never flower with them, but they veg fine for me.
I keep them around six inches from the plants.
What led me to this, was years ago back in the 80's, we used regular T12s an vegged our plants that way.
(there was a time before the internet, grow shops and unlimited access to equipment)
My friend was a lineman for Ma Bell (the phone co.) and used to get us street lights for flowering. (HID gymnasium lights work great too)
In current times, it boils down to what you want to spend. (options abound)
In my 50+ years on this planet, I have seen weed grown in some crazy ways.
Before all these grow shops, internet and unlimited products, weed was easier to grow.
You never found yourself second guessing your methods, or wondering if you need that new super food or liquid magic.
Didn't have PH testers, meters and crap.
We grew based on botany and got what we needed at our local nursery.
Yes T5s are better, but I and 1000s of others managed without them before they were ever invented.
Plus I run separate rooms for veg and flower. I run a perpetual and keep a rotation of plants going in 12/12 every couple weeks.
I'm in less of a hurry to veg, since it's just a timing thing for me. I don't need my vegging plants to "hurry up".
So to answer your original question...yes, you can veg just fine with those, just depends what your time limitations and needs are.
