Ballast not filling...trickle of water & lots of air

[murphini]

My starboard/goofy ballast won't fill...or just a trickle of water from pump to bag. It has worked fine for years...

I can hear/feel the pump run, I can take one of the plugs out of the bag, stick my finger into the bag to feel where the water inlet hose comes into the bag and just a trickle of water is filling; I can put my finger into the inlet hose to build up pressure, but when I take finger out, some water comes in, but then I hear a woosh and more air is coming through the hose than water....

1. I checked the impellers on the Jabsco Ballast Puppies and they looked fine. (I replaced 5 years ago or so I knew how to do it)
2. It worked yesterday....and last week, and last year...
3. The system was sourced by Chpthrl about 7 years ago and has been flawless since
4. I was in an area with lots of seaweed/plants.... could I have sucked something in the intake? If so, how clear it out?
5. My nephew was driving and had the "Fill" pumps on when we were driving to the surf area on plane; could that have caused air in the system?

It feels like I need to prime system with water--or there is air getting into the system....thoughts?

2007 24ve.

[chpthril]

Sounds like an air leak on the intake side of the pump. Closely inspect the hose between the pump and thru-hull. You can also fill the sac using a garden hose by removing one of the sacs top fittings. Now run the pump in drain mode. See how well it drains, see if any debris comes out of the thru-hull and look for water in the boat from a leak.