First, have you decided what to stick in it? It makes a difference on cycling.
Second, the average 10g tank is 20" long, 10" wide, and 13" tall, that is 50 cm x 25 cm x 32.5 cm.
Third, many places now use both chlorine and chloramine to treat water and while chlorine outgasses in a day or 2, chloramine can take more than a week to be safe. Use a dechlorinator that breaksdown both and the water is ready in minutes.
Since you do not have a running tank in the house you do not have the option of kickstarting the cycle with filter sludge but you can use products like cycle or prime if you want.
Here is the way I start a new tank, ammonia test kits are handy but not 100% required.
Find where you want to put your tank, it should be where it won't be run into, out of drafts and not near any heaters. It should also not be in direct sun. Also not directly over your computer or other electronics (spills do occur).
Add your gravel (it should be rinsed first), add rocks, decorations, etc.
Fill with water Not quite full), and add the dechlorinator.
Add the filter and heater and turn them on.
Now wait.
Check several times that day and night to make sure the heater is set where you want it, for most tropicals that is 78-82 degrees F. Waiting until the next day before doing anything else lets you find out about failed filter motors, leaks, and broken heaters, etc. without risking fish.
The next day (as long as everything is working) add some plants if you are going to.
I wait one more day at this stage so I can check for critters that may have come in on the plants. I have found snails, scuds, and even baby fish (good), but have also found diving beetles, hydra, and dragonfly nymphs (bad). The wait also lets you filter start collecting detritus and benicifial bacteria.
The next day recheck the tank temp. (and if you can, the pH and ammonia level, don't panic if you can't, I have started a lot of tanks without the test kits).
Now you are ready for your first fish or two.
This is where your choice of fish becomes important as some fish are hardier than others, assuming a 10g tank you can add one smallish gourami and maybe an otoclinus catfish,
or 5-6 zebra danios,
or 3 giant danios or congo tetras,
or 6-7 guppies.
Don't add more than that and don't start with fish that are not hardy.
Now wait some more, 2-3 days (or untill the ammonia level is zero.)
Now add a couple/few more fish, but not to many, and wait again.
Repeat the adding fish and waiting cycle until you are at the stocking level you desire.
The waiting between each batch of fish means you only get a very small ammonia spike as the filter colony grows to meet the level of nutrients available. What you are doing is going through a series of safe, small ammonia cycles rather than 1 large one.
The benefit of this method is that it doesn't take a lot of stuff and you get to have at least some fish almost from the first day.
I have used this method many times and never had a problem with it.
I hope this helps and good luck
I guess I will just have to add water to see for sure how much it holds.
