The red precipitate is either the magneisum that is precipitated out by reagent #1 so you can get a calcium reading or it is interferance caused by other metals in the water. Ignore it and look for the color change in the liquid. It sometimes helps to add 6 drops of reagent #3 first, then add your 20 drops of reagent #1 and your 5 drops of reagent #2. When you start the titration with reagent #3 start counting the first drop you add as drop 7.