I have cared for tanks of volume from 10-125....
Small is def much more care intensive than large that is for sure. I can leave my 125 for about a week, no top off no nothing. It will really need top off at the end of the week, but then thats it. Even feeding wise I can ignore for periods at a time.
With a 10 you have to on top of everything every day. If I wasn't such a busy person at certain times during the year I would love keeping one, but seeing as I have other things to do that could keep me away from the tank for more than a day at a time its not an option.
Do yourself a favor and don't start a smaller tank, if your going to do it go with something like a 40 or better yet a 50....or a 60
If you can't go bigger, look into FW planted tanks. Take a look at onemore20's planted tank, it looks amazing!