A hydraulic tensioning system for nuts on studbolts has a puller bar and a puller buddy, which are coupled to the studbolt, and a bridge around the nut. The puller bar is internally coupled to the studbolt (and may engage the nut before the tension is applied). The nut can comprise a cone nut, which cooperates with a complementary collar or shell with a conical inner face and a spherical base washer.