I would not suggest a 10 gallon for your first
SW tank. extreamly difficult to keep stable. And I dont thing that you could really put more than 2 very small fish in there. ( 2 perc clowns, or 2 chromis, or 2 damsels.) So your overall satisfaction will be quite low.
If you do however decide that a 10 gallon is right for you, a good sized
HOB filter is a must. along with a nice skimmer. You could try the
LR method, but
IMO a small tank needs more filtration than large ones because they are more likely to get overstocked and more likely to have problems.
I would suggest at the very least a 29 gallon, but a 55 gallon would be much much better. If you can't afford the 55 gallon with its stand and hood (approx. 300 bucks) then I would wait off on
SW. The cost can quickly turn this from a fun hobby to a heavy finacial burden. Most systems will run between 1000 to 2000 dollars to get off of the ground. (I am at 1500 bucks right now for my 37 gallon and I still have a long way to go.)
if your really in a pinch finacially, I would say that waiting off on buying a
SW tank is your best bet. In the mean time you could buy books, hang out here, and just research everything you can. by the time your ready to start, you will know exactally what you want.